Goa Police seize Cocaine worth $3.2 cr.
ARVIND TENGSE
PANAJI (GOA):Over 4 kilograms of cocaine worth Rs 43 crore concealed in chocolate and coffee packets was seized by the Goa Police, in the largest drug seizure in the history of the state police. Three people were arrested and an investigation into suspected international links was launched.
In a major crackdown, the Crime Branch conducted a narcotics raid at Chicolna yesterday and arrested three persons for allegedly possessing 4.235 kg of cocaine valued at Rs 43.20 crore.This is the largest drug haul by Goa police thus far, informed SP North Akshat Khaushal. Those arrested include Nibu Vicent (45), a resident of Baina and a native of West Bengal, and a husband-wife duo — Manguesh and Reshma Wadekar, both residents of Sada, Mormugao. According to officials, the accused had concealed the cocaine in packets of chocolate wafers and coffee to evade detection.
Goa’s previous highest drug haul in terms of value was made on March 8 this year when Crime Branch intercepted a consignment of hydroponically grown weed worth ₹11.67 crore
The drugs were with the family for past 10-15 days. They were concealed in 28 chocolate wafer packets and 4 coffee packets. The accused planned to sell the drugs locally. Police are suspecting involvement of sophisticated international drug racket as Reshma had recently travelled to Thailand. Both Mangesh and Reshma have criminal records. Manguesh who works at a crematorium at Sada was accused in a rape case while Reshma was linked to a prostitution case.
Investigation so far has revealed that Reshma got the consignment from someone and was trying to sell in Goa. The drug was found hidden in Wafer and Coffee packets suspected to have been brought from outside country. Further investigation of the case is in progress with PI, Laxi G. Amonkar under supervision of DYSP Crime Branch-1, Shri Rajesh Kumar and SP, Crime, Shri Rahul Gupta, IPS to find more backward forward links.
