PTI

Panaji, Mar 11: British National Scarlette Keeling's death which has snowballed into a major controversy, has exposed the incessant drug flow in the tourist paradise, following testimony of witnesses who were last seen with the British girl.

Senior police officials have confirmed that Scarlette was high on drugs on the fateful night and interrogations have revealed she had a mixed dose of drugs and liquor that day.

“She had sniffed cocaine and later had ecstasy tablets. In between, she had liquor too,” police officials said. According to investigations, Scarlette also used to smoke hashish, police said.

Also, links of one of the suspects in the case have been traced to the drug trade, whose brother is an ex-convict in a narcotic case, they said. Police contend that all those rounded up in the case are 'drug consumers' and investigations are likely to expose the drug trade in the coastal belt.

The 15-year-old was partying in a shack at Anjuna beach little before her death which has also posed question mark on the conduct of the police attached to Anjuna police station.

The state police have already withdrawn all powers from police sub-inspector Nerlon Albuquerque who conducted the initial probe in the death of British girl even as state Tourism Minister Fransisco Pacheco has put his foot down demanding thorough enquiry in the entire drug cartel.

“I had informed Home Minister Ravi Naik about the drug trade flourishing in Baga, Calangute, Anjuna and Palolem coast,” Tourism Minister Pacheco had said earlier.

Scarlett Eden Keeling, a UK national was found dead on Goa's popular Anjuna beach on February 18.

Fiona Mackowen, mother of the deceased cried foul play in the entire matter forcing the state authorities to a conduct second autopsy which hinted at a murder.

After initial leg work, police arrested 29-year-old Samson D'Souza, who was seen last with the girl, reportedly in a “compromising position”, couple of hours before her death.