Check tenant verification and long stay of accused
MARGAO
South Goa Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Verma on Wednesday said police are probing whether drug accused Walter Fernandes was staying in a house owned by a policeman.
The SP said the police are also checking if Fernandes, a native of Kerala, had followed tenant verification rules. It has come to light that he has been living in Canacona for the past 25 years.
Speaking to the media about the drug raids carried out along the Canacona coast in January, Verma said police conducted four raids in the taluka over the last month. These operations led to drug seizures worth about Rs 1.2 crore.
He said the drive, which began on January 19, resulted in the arrest of a Nigerian national found with cocaine worth Rs 1.1 crore.
“We are working to trace the source of the drugs. The investigation into Walter Fernandes helped us reach the Nigerian national. We are now probing the source of the drugs seized in Canacona,” Verma said.
Responding to questions about the ownership of the premises where Fernandes stayed, the SP said the matter is under investigation. He added that police are also checking whether tenant verification norms were followed.
“All these issues are being investigated. The media will be informed,” he said.
2nd accused arrested in drugs seizure
CANACONA: Canacona police arrested a second person in connection with the seizure of drugs valued at Rs 5.25 lakh at Canacona.
Following the arrest of Walter Fernandes (49), a native of Kerala but residing at Chapoli, on charges of possessing drugs on Tuesday evening, police arrested Sumit Bandekar (32), a prominent restaurant owner, later at night.
Bandekar was later produced before the Canacona JMFC, who granted him bail, while Walter Fernandes, a prominent shack operator, was remanded for four days in police custody.
