Goa police bust major drug racket, seize 4.3kg of cocaine worth over Rs 43 crore

Panaji: In one of the biggest-ever single-day drug seizures by Goa police, 4.3kg of cocaine worth over Rs 43 crore was seized at Chicolna in Mormugao taluka. Three individuals, including a woman, were arrested, and police suspect the drugs were brought to Goa from Thailand to be sold in the local market.
"It is one of the biggest drug seizures by Goa police," said crime branch SP Rahul Gupta. Goa police received information that a group of people, including a woman, was likely to deliver a narcotic substance to prospective customers.
“When we apprehended them, we found a white-coloured substance suspected to be cocaine packed in multiple wafer and coffee packets,” said Gupta. “When a spot test was conducted on the substance, it was confirmed as cocaine.”
He also said that Goa police arrested a 45-year-old native of West Bengal, Nibu Vincent, and a couple, Reshma Wadekar and Manguesh Wadekar, both residents of Sada in Mormugao. Crime branch sleuths caught Vincent red-handed and subsequently arrested the couple.
Gupta said that considering the way it was packed and supposed to be delivered, it appeared to them that they procured the substance from a “sophisticated drug dealer”.
Gupta said that the woman procured the drugs, and both males were involved in the delivery of drugs to customers. Gupta said that Mangesh works at a crematorium in Vasco, and his wife was arrested in connection with alleged human trafficking. Gupta said that Mangesh was arrested in an alleged rape case.
Gupta said that the woman travelled to Thailand, and she must have procured drugs from there. “We are investigating the case. We will come to know who is involved in the case. The third person does not have a criminal record, but the couple used that person as a delivery boy,” said Gupta.
Gupta said that the crime branch will conduct a house search.
Reacting to the raid, chief minister Pramod Sawant said, “Kudos to Goa police and the crime branch for their commendable efforts and swift action in the biggest ever drug bust in the state”.
"The arrests were made at the crime branch office in Ribandar, following effective technical surveillance and precise operational execution. This operation reflects govt's commitment, sharp vigilance, and professional excellence of our law enforcement agencies in their ongoing battle against drug trafficking,” said Sawant.
In March, Goa police seized drugs worth Rs 11.6 crore and arrested a 23-year-old Bengaluru resident for allegedly illegally possessing over 11kg of hydroponic weed (ganja).
Police said the youth brought drugs from Nepal to India and that the crime branch busted an international drug racket.