the goan I network
PORVORIM
The Pernem police has achieved a major breakthrough with the arrest of a gang of four Russian tourists for allegedly cultivating and trading in drugs, besides burglaries at ATMs across the State.
While police seized cannabis plants valued at Rs 65,000 and narcotic drugs worth Rs 7 lakh in two raids at Mandrem on Friday night, the accused admitted having burgled Rs 9 lakh from an ATM in Mandrem and attempting burglaries at ATMs all over the State.
Providing details at a news conference here on Saturday morning, Superintendent of Police (North) Chandan Chowdhary said the Pernem police in the presence of Mapusa SDPO DySP Serafin Dias raided a house at Dandoswada, Mandrem on Friday night.
During the raid, police found a Russian national Ilia Alexsandrovich Shtennikov (30) illegally cultivating cannabis plants (ganja) in his rented premises.
Pernem Police arrested him under Section 20(a) (i) of NDPS Act 1985 and recovered cannabis plants weighing 608 grams and valued at Rs 65,000.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that three other Russian nationals residing in a neighbouring house at Danoswada were also dealing in drugs.
A Pernem police team along with DySP Dias raided a second house and nabbed Radik Vafin (35), who was found in possession of MDMA and Ganja, both valued at Rs 2.09 lakh, Evgenii Zakharin (38), who was found with Ecstacy tablets, MDMA and Ganja, all worth Rs 2.38 lakh and
gor Markov (32), who was found possessing Ecstacy tablets and Ganja worth Rs 2.32 lakh.
The total value of the drugs seized from the 3 Russian nationals was around Rs 7 lakh. A case under Section 20(b) (ii), Sec.22 (b) & (c) of NDPS Act 1985 was registered against them.
During interrogation, Vafin disclosed that he along with the other accused persons had broken into the Bank of India ATM at Madhlawada-Arambol by using gas cutter and explosive substances and had burgled Rs 9 lakh from the ATM. They also admitted to a number of attempted burglaries at ATMs all over the State.
Pernem police seized a Maruti Swift car, a Yamaha motorcycle and several instruments used to break open ATMs.
SP Chowdhary informed reporters that the four Russian nationals had arrived in India on a tourist visa and were reportedly staying in Goa for around 2 months.
The entire operation was conducted by Pernem Police Inspector Sandesh Chodankar, PSI Anant Gaonkar, PSI Sagar Dhatkar, PSI Praful Giri, PSI Parag Parekh in the presence of Mapusa SDPO DySP Serafin Dias.
