MARGAO
These figures should certainly come as an eyeopener for many and raise concern among the men-in-uniform as the menace of drugs is no longer concentrated on the North Goa coast, but has spread its tentacles down South as well.
Otherwise, just consider this. From just 13 cases in 2016, the number of NDPS cases registered by police stations in South Goa has taken a quantum jump to 60 cases in 2017.
Ganja seemed to be the major drug in circulation in South Goa as evident by the fact that the amount of ganja haul by the police was pegged at 23.527 kgs valued at around Rs 23.48 lakh in the market. Incidentally, the total quantity of drugs seized by the South Goa police is put at around 24.313 kgs, valued around Rs 29.18 lakh. Charas (627 kgs), Cocaine (10 gms), Hashish (144 gms) and Ecstasy tablets (05 gms) were the other drugs seized by the police last year.
Statistics released by South Goa Superintendent of Police South, Arvind Gawas, indicated that Margao police station has topped the list with the police station registering around 16 NDPS cases in 2017. In 2016, the number of case registered by the Margao police was put at two.
Margao police station was closely followed by Vasco police station, which was successful in registering around 14 cases last year as against mere four cases in 2016.
Canacona police, which has jurisdiction over the Palolem beach belt has registered around 10 cases. Incidentally, the Canacona police did not book a single case in 2016.
What's interesting to note is that while the police stations, especially Margao, had been successful in nabbing many a culprit and effecting drug seizures, the men-in-uniform have been unsuccessful in getting to the source of the drugs supply.
