Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In an intensified crackdown on the drug trade, North Goa Police and the Crime Branch have registered 54 NDPS cases over the past six months, arresting 69 accused, including nine foreign nationals. Police said the total value of the drugs seized during this period exceeds ₹58 crore, underscoring the scale of the operation.
Superintendent of Police (North/Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta said the seizures included nearly 45 kg of ganja, over 4 kg of cocaine, 3 kg of charas, and significant quantities of MDMA, ecstasy, LSD, methamphetamine, and heroin. The Crime Branch recorded the highest number of NDPS cases (12), followed by Anjuna (11) and Calangute (7), areas known for drug-related activity in the coastal belt.
As part of a parallel drive named “Operation Flashout,” police also focused on foreigners overstaying without valid documents and those involved in narcotics crimes. Sixteen foreigners were produced before the FRRO for house detention, nine were arrested in NDPS cases, and 34 FIRs were registered against foreigners for overstaying. Mandrem, Mapusa, and Anjuna emerged as hotspots for such offences.
Officials said the dual strategy aims to dismantle drug networks while cracking down on illegal residency that often fuels such crime. Police emphasised that sustained enforcement and targeted operations would continue to address the twin challenges of drug trafficking and illegal overstaying in North Goa, particularly in tourism-heavy areas.