Daijiworld Media Network - Canacona

Canacona, Feb 5: South Goa Police have intensified their drive against the drug menace by busting multiple cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Canacona, leading to the seizure of narcotics worth over Rs 10 lakh in a series of targeted operations.

In one case, Canacona Police arrested a 29-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, presently residing at Palolem, after he was found in possession of 431 grams of charas valued at Rs 4.31 lakh. The accused was apprehended near a mosque at Colomb on January 19. He was booked under the NDPS Act, initially remanded to police custody and later sent to judicial custody at the Central Jail, Colvale.

In another operation carried out on January 23, police arrested a 28-year-old man, a native of Kerala and a resident of Agonda, for illegal possession of MDMA. The accused was caught near Charasthand on the road leading to the Powerhouse in Canacona, with 13.5 grams of MDMA worth Rs 1.35 lakh. He too was booked under the NDPS Act and subsequently remanded to judicial custody at Colvale Central Jail after police custody.

Meanwhile, in a major breakthrough, Canacona Police busted yet another NDPS case and seized drugs worth Rs 5.25 lakh, including MDMA, charas and cocaine. The prime accused, a 49-year-old resident of Canacona originally hailing from Kerala, was apprehended near the Canacona football ground. Police recovered 24.4 grams of MDMA, 111.2 grams of charas and 3.4 grams of cocaine from his possession, allegedly meant for sale.

During further investigation, a second accused, a 32-year-old resident of Agonda, was arrested for allegedly procuring drugs from the prime accused. Both have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and remanded to police custody.

All the operations were conducted under the supervision of senior police officers. Police said investigations are ongoing to trace and dismantle the wider network involved in the illegal drug trade.