Panaji: Goa police launched a statewide drive “operation prahar“ on Friday night to crack down the narcotics network and arrested 12 persons for allegedly being in possession of narcotic substances including ganja, LSD, cocaine, charas, ketamine and ecstasy worth Rs 10 lakh.Goa police PRO, DSP Nilesh Rane, said that the operation resulted in the registration of 10 cases under the NDPS Act.The operation involved coordinated action by the district police, ATS, ANC, coastal police, traffic police, crime branch and other specialised units at multiple locations.As part of the operation, railway police also conducted surprise checks at Tivim and Margao railway stations, including in 11 trains operating on the Konkan Railway and South Western Railway routes.“Trains vulnerable to drug trafficking were identified and subjected to intensive checking. Suspicious passengers and their belongings were searched both inside moving trains and on railway platforms. Sniffer dogs were also deployed for detection and examination of suspicious baggage,” Goa police said.More than 120 interstate buses operating on various routes, particularly the Goa-Maharashtra and Goa-Karnataka routes, were checked at different locations and bus terminals. More than 500 passengers were subjected to verification and checking as part of the exercise.“Coastal police conducted surprise checks against suspected sand-mining activities at vulnerable locations to curb such illegal activities. Extensive nakabandi and vehicle checking were conducted at strategic locations across the state. More than 1000 vehicles were checked and 50 persons were rounded up for drunk driving, and necessary legal action was initiated as per law,” Goa police said.The operation also included intensified verification of foreign nationals where two foreigners were found overstaying in Goa without valid visas, Rane said.Such coordinated and sustained enforcement operations will continue to be undertaken to disrupt criminal networks, strengthen preventive policing and ensure the safety and security of residents and visitors to Goa, said Goa police.BOXPanaji: Crime branch of Goa police conducted a narcotics raid at Sattari and arrested 28-year-old Pritesh Gawde, a resident of Honda for being in possession of narcotics substance suspected to be ganja worth Rs 2.3 lakh. During the search, a total of 2.3kg of suspected ganja was seized.
