#  Majority of those convicted possessed ganja & charas
#  38 Goans in list; Indians also caught with synthetic drugs
the goan I network
PANAJI
Almost 72 per cent i.e. 134 cases are pending trial, while a few others have been sent for ‘A’ Final and ‘C’ Final reports seeking closure.
Since 2013, Goa Police have detained 216 accused in cases booked under the NDPS Act. A considerable number of such cases, especially the ones booked in the recent months, are under investigation.
These 134 cases pending trial involve 148 accused including 53 foreign nationals, 57 non-Goans and 38 Goans. 53 foreign nationals include Nigerians, Nepalese, Portuguese, French, British, Russians, Japanese, Ugandan, Israeli, Italian, Ghanaians, Sudanese, Koreans and a 77 year-old Costa Rican.
Interestingly, of the 186 cases booked in Goa over the last two and half years, 90 have been registered by the Anti Narcotic Cell of Goa Police. In 2015, the ANC booked 28 cases out of the total 61 in Goa and arrested 32 accused for illegal possession of drugs. A total of 9.73 kgs of narcotic substances were seized approximately worth Rs 10.12 crore by this unit of Goa Police.
With their jurisdictions being nestled in the Northern coastal belt of the State, infamous for a considerably heavier network of drug traders, Anjuna and Calangute police stations followed closely. However, Mormugao, Colva, Margao and Ponda police stations have succeeded in securing a conviction each despite the cases registered in their jurisdiction being negligible.
Drugs in circulation over the years also appear to have changed. While natural drugs such as ganja and charas were seized in almost all the raids, in 2013, smaller quantities of cocaine, LSD papers, ecstasy, MDMA and LSD liquid were seized. Larger seizures included the drugs ketamine and amphetamine. Heroin and methamphetamine began to be seized in the following years with the surprising entry of (4 methoxy benzyl) phenethyaminel, a designer drug, in the year 2015.
This year, till June 30, most raids have resulted in seizure of LSD liquid, LSD papers, MDMA and almost no quantities of cocaine barring one raid where 1.5 gm of cocaine was attached.
A large majority of those convicted were arrested for being in possession of natural drugs such as ganja and charas.
Also, it has come to light that the synthetic drugs trade isn’t centered on foreign nationals any more with an increasing number of Indians being caught peddling and dealing in the banned substances.
Of the seven cases involving synthetic drugs such as LSD papers MDMA and cocaine booked in the first half of this year, four of the seven arrested are Goan locals while the remaining three are Nigerian nationals.
