Amresh Parab
Panaji: In the last five years, the state police have arrested 895 accused persons in various drugs cases and over 28% of these are residents of Goa.
According to police, Goa being a tourist destination, narcotic drugs are smuggled in the state for consumption and transit. From 2020 to February 2025, police stations across the state registered 762 cases and nabbed 895 accused.
A total of 253 of these arrested accused were local residents, while 137 were foreign nationals, police said adding that 505 were residents of other parts of India.
Explaining the steps taken to combat drug trade, police said integrated nakabandi has been devised at specific points, and policemen, including officers of the districts and units, are deployed for checking. Bar and restaurants and shacks located along the coastal area are subjected to surprise checks, police said.
A senior police officer claimed that teams of district police, crime branch and the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) are always on the field, conducting raids after receiving specific information, and cases are booked as per the provision of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Police said that day and night patrolling is maintained by police station staff in their respective jurisdictions.
The staff also collects intelligence in this regard, police said.
Patrolling is carried out through the beat staff, PCR vehicles and motorcycles at places that see high tourist footfall, said the senior police officer. He said the state police has been educating youth, students and the general public regarding the ill effects of drugs in order to keep them away from drug addiction and trade.
Awareness programmes are conducted for youth and students with emphasis on delivering lectures in schools and colleges, police said.
