PANAJI
The Hyderabad (Telangana) police have laid their hands on one of the biggest drug dealers as the sleuths continue to identify suppliers of the illicit trade from Goa.
Suspected supplier identified as one Balmurugan was arrested from Goa on Thursday on charges of peddling high-grade drugs in the tourist-populated coastal belt in North Goa.
“He has been actively involved in smuggling Hash Oil and Malana Cream from Himachal Pradesh to Goa. His interrogation will throw more light on his modus operandi, partners in crime and customers,” a senior officer with Osmania University police, told The Goan.
The arrested man runs three popular beach-side restaurants in Anjuna, and one each in (Shimla) Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, where footfalls record an impressive number every year.
"We are investigating if his outlets were operating as a den to push drugs," the officer said.
The accused, living in Goa for 5 years, was taken to Hyderabad on the same day. The officer claimed that Goa police's assistance was sought to trace the businessman in this State.
The Hyderabad police made a couple of arrests since August 2022 as it is working on various leads to crack down on the inter-State drug network allegedly operating from Goa. After Pritesh Borkar, Hill Top club owner John Stephen D’Souza aka Steve, and a few others in Goa and Hyderabad, Curlies owner Edwin Nunes was taken into custody.
Arrested earlier this month and three FIRs against him, Nunes has been released on bail through an order by the Metropolitan Court in the southern State.
