Young men and women in their early twenties, drenched and shrieking, line up to get into a popular nightclub.
A few foreigners from Europe wait their turn. A few locals and some Africans stand innocuously as small packets and bunch of notes exchange hands.A lone PCR stands at the endof the lane, oblivious of another drug deal that happened under their noses.
Either the Goa Police is naïve or a headless Anti NarcoticsCell in the state continues to roam aimlessly like headless chickens, as drugpeddlers run amok on North Goa’s busy tourist chain. From the young uninitiatedlooking for her first puff of hash to a seasoned MDMA addict, it is allavailable in this area even as the Goa government first tries talking toughabout eradicating the drug menace from the state, to setting up a HouseCommittee to investigate the nexus. What is ironical is the fact that the samearea that was once alleged to be under the patronage of Congress politicians isnow under BJP legislators but the scenario has not changed.
There is a distinct pattern in the way drugs are beingpeddled. Drug Enforcement Agencies in the State talk of drug biggies includingJuvao Lopes, Dileep Shimipurushkar and Tyran who operate their drug businessesfrom the secured comforts of their homes. Others like Abel, who owns a clothstore on Calangute beach, deals through his shop.
The Goan investigations also reveal that contrary to popularperception, drugs are not available everywhere across the counter but it isrestricted to a few shacks, nightclubs and pubs. Many of the shack andrestaurants in Calangute and Candolim may not be directly involved in drugtrade but it is learnt that few of their waiters may be peddling drugs, to earna fast buck, without their owners even being aware.
Elsewhere, it is not so simple. One of the most talked aboutshacks on the Anjuna beachfront, very close to the flea market has two separatesections, one dealing with the commonplace, while the other exclusively forthose who want to go on a high. This shack is owned by a former Anjuna sarpanchwho was interrogated in the Scarlett Keeling death case. In fact, the Anjunabeachfront has practically six of its most popular shacks under Anjuna Policescanner. “Drugs are being sold across the counter over here but catching themred-handed too is difficult as rot extends to the police force itself” says asource in Goa Police.
What is baffling is how some of the most talked aboutaddresses for tourists are emerging as a hotspot for drug trade and otherplaces where nationals from an African nation hang out in large numbers. Theseplaces have these drug runners hanging out in hordes and peddling drugs assimple as you could buy a chewing gum across the counter. The beat policestanding at an arm’s length do not even interfere. Drugs are an everydayfeature for Goa’s tourist hub.
