Inter-state buses, trains under scrutiny; drugs disguised as legitimate medication
PANAJI
The Goa Police have turned their attention to an alarming trend where inter-state buses – other than trains – are becoming the latest vehicles for clandestine narcotics trade. Some of these passengers, both Indians and foreigners, are suspected drug mules who disguise their illegal cargo during these public transport trips. The true danger lies in the deceitful use of medical cover-ups.
A recent crackdown by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) and North Goa Police reveals that under the guise of legitimate medication, contraband substances packed as capsules/tablets are being trafficked.
During the recent long weekend, two Ugandan nationals were arrested at Mapusa bus stand and cocaine worth Rs 20 lakh, concealed in tablet form, was seized from their possession. The peddlers had come from Pune via an inter-state bus to distribute the drugs along the coastal belt.
This has also surfaced another worrying shift: these drugs are increasingly being transported from metropolitan cities instead of traditional hotspots like Himachal Pradesh or international drug-infested destinations.
ANC SP Akshat Kaushal confirmed the incident, adding they have coordinated with their counterparts in the neighbouring states to trace the origins of these seized narcotics.
“We are aware that narcotics are being routed from other locations and then moved through hubs in Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore before reaching Goa. We are in close contact with our counterparts to track the actual sources of these smuggled drugs and identify those involved in the lethal operations within and outside Goa,” Kaushal told The Goan.
In another case exposing the use of bus stands for drug trafficking, a Nigerian national travelling from Bangalore was arrested after police acted on intelligence reports. “Our sources observed a pattern and after verifying the information, we arrested her with synthetic drugs,” the officer, also heading the north district, stated.
Kaushal conceded that railway routes also remain vulnerable to drug trafficking, adding they have enhanced surveillance at major railway stations – Tivim, Vasco and Margao.
“We are checking all entry points and have developed sources at each location to track suspicious persons. We have also collaborated with bus conductors, drivers, taxi operators, courier services, and others to bolster our efforts,” Kaushal said, claiming, “We have prevented these drugs from reaching the coastal belt.”
