MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the House to investigate into the allegations that cakes laced with drugs were available in select pastry eateries in the State after the Opposition sought to corner the government that drugs were available in schools and college campus.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in a written reply to a starred question said that being an iconic tourist destination, Goa was prone to use of recreational drugs by tourists like any other tourist destination.
“Goa Police is alive to such possibility and many drug cases have been booked in villages. However, no drug case has been booked or come to notice in any school or college in the State,” Sawant said.
Countering the CM’s statement, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas said drugs have made its way into the schools and in homes and youth who consumed drugs were harassing their parents when it wasn’t available.
“Weed is the new need of youngsters. ‘Weed cakes’ and ‘Marijuana Brownies’ are available in some pastry shops. The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) should be given instructions to raid pastry shops wherever they have doubts that there are brownies made of weed,” Viegas said.
He also said that all government websites should carry out a display of ‘No drugs in Goa’ which will give a stern message that the State will not tolerate drugs.
Sawant informed that the Anti-Narcotic Cell has been creating awareness against drugs in colleges, schools and public places on the international day against drug abuse on June 26.
“We do not want to disturb all the businesses. But I will ask the anti-narcotic cell to check whether Weed Cakes and Marijuana Brownies are being sold in any pastry shops,” Sawant said.
St Andre MLA, Viresh Borkar referred to newspaper reports and claimed that drugs were indeed found in a prominent college in his constituency.
“There are vehicles with tinted glasses moving around near the Cujira school complex which houses prominent schools,” Borkar said.
The CM informed that the government did not go by the newspaper reports but had a fact finding team in place. He also said just because some vehicles with tinted glasses move around did not mean it is involved in drugs.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said the Hyderabad DGP had recently claimed that Goa Police was not cooperating with them on drugs related cases.
He also wondered whether the Goa Police was following the Mumbai police manual and if the Goa Police would come with a new police manual.
Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye said that the drugs issue was a very serious one and any government should take serious note of it.
“If police know everything then how come they cannot locate the source of drugs and curb it,” Shetye asked.
