Like it or not, narco-tourism (tourism for or with drugs) has been or is an essential part of Goa's tourism. It has been since tourism accidentally took root with the arrival of the 'flower children' (hippies) in the 1970s. Over the decades, the narco-trade has grown exponentially in Goa riding piggyback and parallel with the growth of tourism. What hasn't kept pace with it is its policing as several drug-related incidents in the recent weeks and months indicate. The Goan tracks some of these cases, talks to sleuths in-charge of the policing of drugs and attempts to trace the contours of this bulging under-belly of Goa's crucial tourism sector.
Goa’s close connection with narcotics seems inseparable, and recent developments suggest that drug lords are transforming Goa into a manufacturing hub, leading to an alarming increase in drug-related incidents. The Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) recent crackdown on the LSD unit in Mandrem, serves as proof.
Drug trafficking has evolved to exploit waterways in several ports of India as the preferred route for smuggling in the recent past, and thereafter routing to places like Goa where the demand is huge.
Smuggling the lethal products
What makes this development even more intriguing is the growing demand for liquid cocaine, if not only LSD and other designer drugs. This innovative method involves dipping clothes into the liquid substance, which is then worn unsuspectingly by individuals or is staked in their luggage, effectively bypassing investigation agencies.
Police sources disclosed to The Goan that once the drug-laden clothing is dusted off, the highly potent cocaine powder is generated, ready for distribution and consumption among first-time or repeat users frequenting the coastal State.
“This emergence of liquid cocaine smuggling through clothing not only highlights the creativity of drug traffickers in a desperate bid to keep the lethal business going but is also posing significant challenges for the police,” the officer said, adding that this covert technique has added a new layer of complexity to the fight against drug trafficking in Goa.
It has also come to the fore that with high-grade cocaine being smuggled into Goa, drug traffickers and carriers keep modifying their modus operandi.
In a fresh revelation, smuggling to and fro Goa is also being done through “crockery.”
“Cups, dishes and other forms of crockery in antique form are being smuggled. Since many people carry it as mementoes from different countries or as gifts, it goes undetected,” an officer explained.
Apparently, Macau and nearby Arab countries have been the prime points even as police are yet to officially establish it.
The purity of the imported cocaine is such that one kilo is valued at a whopping Rs 3 crore and once it is distributed to dealers, these are adulterated with boric powder and sold at a much higher rate at Rs 9-12 crore per kilo.
While the authorities are grappling with the pressing need to intensify efforts to dismantle the growing drug manufacturing operations, they are now also focusing on bolstering border security to counter the evolving smuggling techniques. The local police, along with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other stakeholders including the central armed agencies, have launched comprehensive investigations to identify and apprehend key players involved in the production and distribution of narcotics in Goa.
Scientists from nations called in to manufacture
According to police sources, there is also a perceived threat from within the country as it has purportedly come to light, that lab scientists from some drug-ridden countries are being “recruited” by the drug lords to produce illicit drugs. Once their task is complete, they are compensated with a whopping amount only to be summoned again when needed.
“Thankfully, this practice is not currently prevalent in Goa but there is a concern that these experimental drugs are being imported and sold here. It is possible that the increase in overdose cases last year was a result of these dangerous experiments where drug users are essentially used as test subjects,” he said.
The State did see four overdose cases within a span of four months, of which two victims including BJP’s popular leader in Haryana Sonali Phogat succumbed.
LSD distribution has expanded, rates high
According to reliable police sources, The Goan has discovered that the price of a single crystal of LSD has significantly risen to approximately Rs 7 lakh, whereas it used to be around Rs 3.5 lakh a few years ago.
The production of these party drugs occurs on a large scale in neighbouring districts of Karnataka and Kerala, gradually finding its way into Goa. It is reliably learnt that one gram of LSD can yield roughly 1,100 drops, with each drop consisting of approximately 450 microns and being sold for Rs 800 to Rs 1,000. “The size of 450 microns is considerable because typically a drug user can only consume around 250 microns,” explained the officer.
Furthermore, the distribution varies depending on the origin of individuals from different parts of the country and the world. A drop of 250 microns is sold at approximately Rs 2,500 to tourists from Mumbai.
MDMA, Ketamine, and Viagra have also gained popularity, with a significant amount of Viagra being exported to countries where this non-prescription drug is sold at exorbitant prices.
“There was very little activity before 2010, but since then, the availability and sale of these drugs have proliferated in Goa. Manufacturing units are also emerging and the proof is raided by Goa Police in the recent past and now the NCB,” stated the officer.
Haryana-Delhi connection?
According to reliable sources, the drug trade originating from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab has far-reaching consequences, reaching different parts of the country with the possibility of including Goa too in their list of vulnerable states.
Multiple districts of Haryana, including Sirsa and Fatehabad, both of which are particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to Punjab, have fallen victim to the drug crisis. Two main routes facilitate the drug flow: one from Pakistan through Punjab to Haryana and the other from Delhi.
“The drugs from Pakistan are of pure quality, while those coming from Delhi are chemical-based. Some African nationals residing in the Janakpuri area of Delhi, etc are largely involved in trafficking,” disclosed a confidential source.
The purity of drugs, especially Heroin, is such that it commands a high price of Rs 2,000 and above per gram. In contrast, drugs from Delhi can be acquired for Rs 600 to Rs 800 per gram.
“The possibility of drugs coming to Goa from Haryana is relatively low due to the considerable distance of around 1,500 kilometres between the two states. However, African nationals regularly travelling to Delhi should be closely monitored, as several have been apprehended in recent times and they have visited Goa,” the source added.
