A week after Margao town police arrested Melroy Ricardo (22) with over 500 grams of ganja, investigators are now digging deeper into what could be part of a larger drug trafficking network operating from a flat in Malbhat.
Ricardo was apprehended red-handed during a late-night operation between June 14 and 15, with cannabis worth around Rs 50,400. Initially treated as a simple case of illegal possession, the case has since taken a more serious turn.
Police inspections revealed that the flat where the arrest occurred is registered under a different person’s name, sparking questions about the involvement of others. Investigators are now looking into the owner’s connection to the suspected drug network. Interestingly, both Ricardo and the flat owner are from Curtorim, suggesting deeper local ties.
PI Suraj Samant is spearheading the investigation. With a focus on dismantling not just street-level dealers but also the infrastructure behind the drug trade, the operation is being backed by South Goa SP Tikam Singh Verma.
“We are determined to break the backbone of drug supply chains entering Goa,” SP Verma told TOI. “This isn’t merely about random arrests—we’re targeting the entire infrastructure supporting this illicit trade.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with further interrogations and property checks expected.
