After conducting the breathalyzer test for consumption of alcohol it is learnt that in a crackdown on those under the influence of narcotics, the Goa Police for the first time has deployed a new detection device namely ‘SoToxa’ for detection of presence of narcotics. SoToxa is a handheld analyzer that uses an oral fluid swab to detect the presence of six kinds of drugs: cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, cannabis, amphetamine and benzodiazepines.
The Goa Police have reportedly arrested seven tourists for consumption of drugs during a random check conducted with the help of the portable hand held analyzer. It is understood that the arrested persons were in the age group of 20 to 32. It only goes to show that the use of drugs is very prominent among the youth. All were Indian tourists, which also proves that it is not only the foreign tourists who indulge in drugs but Indian tourists as well.
If this malady is not nipped in the bud, Goa could become a haven for narcotic use. Those who have been arrested need to be questioned by the police on the source from where they acquired the narcotics. It seems prudent to arrest the suppliers of the drugs. This will go a long way in preventing the use of narcotics in the state. Police need to go after the kingpin in the narcotic trade and not just arrest the users of the drugs.
