In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Goa Police seized narcotics worth Rs9.2 lakh and arrested several individuals, including foreign nationals and locals, as part of multiple operations conducted in December. These raids also led to the dismantling of an interstate ganja smuggling network.
During the Sunburn Music Festival, the ANC detained five individuals, including tourists from Texas (USA), Hyderabad, Chennai, Madhya Pradesh, and a local from Cuncolim. Saliva tests confirmed the presence of banned substances—four tested positive for ganja, and one for cocaine.
In a separate operation near ITI Tuem, a local youth was arrested for allegedly possessing and supplying Ecstasy and Charas worth Rs7.7 lakh. The ANC posed as customers and apprehended the individual during a drug delivery.
Simultaneously, in Parra, Bardez, the ANC arrested Nigerian national Joseph Uzor (44) for possessing cocaine worth Rs1.5 lakh. The police are now investigating Uzor’s background and the legality of his stay in Goa.
A major breakthrough came with the arrest of Guddu Mochi Ram, the kingpin of an interstate ganja supply network, in Palamu, Jharkhand. Earlier, two youths from Jharkhand and a Goan youth were arrested in Assnora with 13 kg of ganja. After extensive investigation and surveillance, the ANC identified and arrested the primary supplier, who had been using economically disadvantaged individuals as transporters. This operation was carried out in coordination with Palamu Police.
Additionally, in collaboration with the Delhi Police Crime Branch, the ANC and Goa Police Crime Branch arrested a Portuguese national from Colva, linked to a drug case involving the seizure of 3.5 kg of Charas worth Rs2.5 crore in Delhi.
Investigations are ongoing, and the police continue to track further connections within Goa and across borders.
