Goa’s ‘drug lords’ still languishing in jail
PANAJI
Six months after the Hyderabad (Telangana) police crossed its territory to dismantle an inter-state drug network originating from Goa, the four alleged peddlers, whom Goa’s counterparts identify as “drug lords” are languishing in Hyderabad jails.
Hyderabad Commissioner C V Anand (IPS) has refused to let go the efforts made by its sleuths to crack down on the lethal trade, which came in 22 days before BJP leader and reel star Sonali Phogat succumbed to drug overdose.
In his tweet on Tuesday, Anand claimed that his anti-narcotics unit has busted Goa’s modules of operating the network in several parts of the country. The revelation comes even as Goa Police subsequently started a drive against the illicit trade with dozens of cases booked within a short span in September-October, 2022.
“As u (you) wud (would) know, the HNEW, Hyd (Hyderabad) Narcotics Enforcement Wing, has been on a big drive to rid this city of drugs since a year and has already busted several Goa modules and the drug lords there, Edwin (Nunes), Murugan, De Souza (Stephen alias Steve D’Souza), (Pritesh) Borkar etc are now in Hyderabad jails,” he posted.
The intention to mention its ‘secret’ mission that subsequently led to differences between Goa and Hyderabad police, was to create awareness among the youth in his city who are falling prey to drugs.
“The peddlers have now turned their attention to Mumbai as a supply route. There is a switch to synthetic drugs as cocaine, hash, heroin are in short supply here (Hyderabad). Very disturbing facts come to our notice and I make a Personal Appeal to all youngsters, boys and girls to desist from this life & career ruining habit and request all parents to keep a close watch on their children and where they r (are) going etc,” read his four-thread post.
The Hyderabad police have managed to extend the alleged peddlers’ imprisonment by imposing the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, 1988.
Borkar was among the first to be arrested on August 16, 2022 while he was picked up on August 1, 2022 followed by a missing complaint filed by his family members at Anjuna police station. The Hyderabad police however maintained that he was arrested on August 16. This was followed by a marathon investigation in Goa and arrests of some big names. Goa Police simultaneously started a drive against drugs consumption with dozens of cases booked within a short span.
The problem of coordination among the law enforcement agencies was thereafter sorted. In a recent case, Goa Police solved a kidnapping for ransom case wherein two Hyderabad men were abducted by 11 persons in Goa.
