Amresh Parab
Panaji
The Goa Police have managed to secure conviction in over 61 per cent of the 245 drugs cases disposed of by courts in the last five years.
A senior police officer told The Navhind Times that 245 drugs cases were disposed of from 2021 to 2025, and that the accused were convicted in 151 cases.
Referring to the remaining cases, the officer said 58 cases resulted in acquittal, while the accused were discharged in 23
such cases.
During this period, 13 cases were closed (A-abetted) after the accused expired, the officer said.
The Goa Police conduct regular review meetings, performance monitoring, intelligence assessment and surprise checks to ensure the effective enforcement of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Act, 1985.
Police officers are issued specific directions to intensify surveillance and preventive measures in vulnerable areas.
“In cases where repeated drug-related incidents are reported from any particular jurisdiction, the matter is reviewed at supervisory levels,” another senior officer explained, adding that the government remains committed to ensuring accountability, strengthening enforcement, and taking firm action wherever warranted.
The police said they have intensified intelligence gathering and surveillance, particularly in vulnerable and sensitive areas with increased coordination with cybercrime units to monitor online drug procurement and cryptocurrency-based transactions.
As part of its strategic crackdown on drug menace, the police had kept an eye on over 54 drug peddlers. A senior police officer had said the department had shortlisted drug peddlers/dealers and their activities were being monitored round the clock.
The police had also been keeping a track on those arrested in drug cases and were out on bail.
The police said that owing to the well-planned strategy to dismantle drug networks by targeting the supply chain as well as demand resulted in record seizures of drugs worth over Rs 78.45 crore in 2025.
In 2024 the police seized drugs worth Rs 9.81 crore.
It is pertinent to note that people have maintained that there has been a rise in availability and rampant sale of narcotic drugs across the state. However, the police reasoned that due to greater inter-agency coordination and effective intelligence gathering, the seizure of drugs has increased.
Continuous monitoring and intelligence gathering are carried out to prevent the recurrence of such offences, the police said, adding that they have strengthened human intelligence networks in coastal areas as also at nightlife zones.
Also, technical surveillance, including call detail records (CDR) analysis, cyber monitoring and digital evidence tracking, has been enhanced.
