Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa recorded 740 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act over the past five years, with non-Goan residents accounting for the largest share of arrests, followed by local residents and foreign nationals, according to data tabled in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The figures were provided by Chief Minister and Home Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant in a written reply to an unstarred question raised by MLA Yuri Alemao.
According to the Home Department, Goa Police registered 121 narcotics cases in 2021, followed by 154 in 2022. The number declined slightly to 140 cases in 2023 before increasing to 162 in 2024 and 163 in 2025.
The arrest figures also indicate sustained enforcement against those involved in the illegal drug trade. In 2021, police arrested 87 non-Goans, 29 locals and 22 foreign nationals. The following year, the figures stood at 104 non-Goans, 59 locals and 29 foreigners.
In 2023, police apprehended 98 non-Goans, 47 locals and 21 foreign nationals. In 2024, the numbers increased to 112 non-Goans, 56 locals and 24 foreigners. During 2025, 103 non-Goans, 78 locals and 32 foreign nationals were arrested under the NDPS Act.
The government said Goa’s position as a major international tourist destination makes it vulnerable to the movement of narcotic substances, both for local consumption and onward transit.
District Police teams, the Crime Branch and the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) have been conducting raids based on intelligence inputs to detect and disrupt drug networks operating in the state.
As part of the enforcement strategy, integrated nakabandis have been organised at vulnerable routes, while surprise checks are carried out at coastal shacks, bars and restaurants. Beat staff, motorcycle squads and Police Control Room vehicles have also been deployed to maintain surveillance in major tourist areas.
The government further highlighted the use of PRISM, an analytical intelligence platform developed for Goa Police. The system assists officers in criminal profiling, tracing proclaimed offenders and identifying habitual offenders involved in NDPS-related activities.
Regular meetings of the Narcotics Coordination Centre (NCORD) are also being held by the District Magistrates in coordination with district police chiefs to strengthen information sharing and cooperation among agencies involved in combating the drug trade.
