PANAJI
The Crime Branch has claimed two major breakthroughs against organised drug trafficking, unearthing two interstate narcotics networks that allegedly operated across Goa, Delhi, Kerala and Telangana.
The probe has also exposed the alleged network being operated from inside Colvale Central Jail by a convicted NDPS accused.
The CB officials stated that the investigations have led to the seizure of commercial quantities of narcotic substances in Delhi and the arrest of an absconding accused allegedly running a ganja supply network from Hyderabad.
In the first case, the CB said its investigation into the arrest of a 26-year-old man in June exposed an interstate methamphetamine and MDMA trafficking syndicate with links extending beyond Goa.
Abhiram Pulikkal (26), a native of Kozhikode, Kerala, presently residing at Arpora, was arrested on June 18 while travelling on a scooter at Arpora. Police recovered 11.557 gms of methamphetamine and 9.076 gms of MDMA, collectively valued at around Rs 2.65 lakh. The scooter and a mobile phone were also seized.
"During custodial interrogation and forensic analysis of the mobile phone, it was found that Pulikkal had earlier been arrested in a 2020 NDPS case and had come into contact with Azrudeen Achi alias Asaru, a convicted accused in the same case inside Colvale Jail," it said.
The CB further claimed the investigation revealed that Azrudeen was allegedly operating a drug distribution network from inside the prison. The team subsequently obtained his custody from the court for further investigation.
The probe later identified two alleged associates, Moosan Mukhiri and Mohammed Faizan, both natives of Kannur, Kerala, who were allegedly operating from Delhi.
Acting on intelligence developed by the Goa CB, the Delhi CB conducted a raid on July 11 and seized 151 gms of methamphetamine and 512 gms of magic mushrooms, both classified as commercial quantities under the NDPS Act. The contraband is valued at around Rs 40 lakh.
Delhi Police registered a separate case under the NDPS Act and arrested Mohammed Faizan and Moosan Mukhiri. Goa Police said it is taking legal steps to obtain their custody for further investigation.
The CB described the operation as a significant breakthrough in dismantling an interstate narcotics syndicate.
In the second case, the CB said its investigation into a ganja seizure led to the arrest of an absconding accused wanted in other serious criminal cases.
On July 28, the CB arrested Kalicharan Bhol of Verem and allegedly seized 812 gms of ganja valued at about Rs 80,000.
During the investigation, police said they developed intelligence indicating that Krishna Belgaonkar, who was absconding in connection with a Porvorim police case and was also allegedly evading trial in a murder case, was operating the narcotics network from Hyderabad.
The CB coordinated with the Telangana Anti Narcotics Bureau, which apprehended Belgaonkar. A team from Porvorim Police later travelled to Hyderabad and arrested him on July 29. "Belgaonkar was a key figure in ganja trafficking in Goa and had continued coordinating the supply of narcotic substances into the State through associates while absconding for nearly 18 months," the team said.
