Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a major breakthrough against organised narcotics trafficking, the Goa Crime Branch has busted two interstate drug cartels in separate intelligence-led operations, leading to the seizure of commercial quantities of narcotics and the arrest of key accused operating across Goa, Delhi and Hyderabad.
In the first case, registered as Crime Branch FIR No. 76/2026 under the NDPS Act, the Crime Branch arrested 26-year-old Abhiram Pulikkal, a native of Kozhikode currently residing in Arpora, on June 18. Police seized 11.557 grams of methamphetamine and 9.076 grams of MDMA, collectively valued at around ₹2.65 lakh, along with his scooter and mobile phone.
The investigation revealed that Pulikkal had allegedly established links with a convicted NDPS accused lodged in Central Jail, Colvale, who was suspected of operating a drug distribution network from inside the prison. Further technical analysis led investigators to two associates based in Delhi.
Acting on intelligence shared by the Goa Crime Branch, the Delhi Crime Branch conducted a raid on July 11 and seized 151 grams of methamphetamine and 512 grams of magic mushrooms, valued at approximately ₹40 lakh. Two accused, Mohammed Faizan and Moosan Mukhiri, both natives of Kannur, Kerala, were arrested and are currently in Delhi Crime Branch custody. Goa Police are initiating legal procedures to obtain their custody for further investigation.
In the second operation, registered as Crime Branch Crime No. 62/2026, the Crime Branch arrested Kalicharan Bhol from Verem on July 28 and seized 812 grams of ganja worth about ₹80,000.
During the investigation, police developed intelligence that Krishna Belgaonkar, an absconding accused in a Porvorim Police case and also wanted in a murder case, had been operating a ganja trafficking network from Hyderabad while evading arrest for nearly 18 months.
Based on the intelligence provided by the Goa Crime Branch, the Telangana Anti Narcotics Bureau apprehended Belgaonkar, following which a Porvorim Police team formally arrested him in Hyderabad on July 29.
Investigators believe Belgaonkar was a key kingpin in the interstate ganja supply network and had continued coordinating the movement of narcotics into Goa through his associates while absconding.
Crime Branch said both operations highlight the effectiveness of intelligence-based policing and close coordination between Goa Police and law enforcement agencies in Delhi and Telangana. Further investigation in both cases is underway.
