Panaji, Aug 20 (IANS): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Director General of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena on Thursday warned of a crackdown on drug-laced parties in the state.

The announcement by the duo at a Home Ministry function here comes days after the Crime Branch of the Goa Police busted an illegal rave party in a North Goa beach village in which 24 persons, including a close aide of an Opposition MLA, was also arrested.

"The Chief Minister has instructed us to take strict action against drug-laced parties and enforce the message that Goa is a peaceful place and you are invited to travel here and party, but do not indulge in drugs and anti-social activities," Meena said at the function via video conference.

With tourism slowly opening up in Goa, there is an increasing trend of posh villas in the coastal belt being used by tourists as party pads. On Sunday, 23 persons, including a small-time Bollywood actor and three foreigners, were found with a cocktail of drugs, after the Crime Branch busted a rave party.

A day later Shailesh Shetty, an Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival organiser and a close aide of an Opposition MLA, was also arrested and booked under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and for facilitating the event.

Sawant, who was also present at the virtual event, said the police had been directed to arrest the main drug supplier who had provided narcotic substances for the rave party.

"Drugs will never have a place in Goa. We have made a beginning to destroy the very roots of the trade. We will not fall short," Sawant added, lauding the Crime Branch for carrying out the raid.

"They (police) should reach the person who supplied them drugs. The government will give them all support. They have full freedom to bust the drug net in Goa," Sawant said.