NEW MODUS OPERANDI BY DRUG PEDDLARS TO FOOL POLICE

PANJIM: The drug peddlers have come up with a new strategy to hoodwink the police and continue with their illegal drug trade on the eve of the New Year.

According to sources in the state police department, the drug peddlers now do not carry drugs on their person. Instead, they carry visiting cards and small chits of paper with their contact information written on it. They also carry a pen, informed the cops.

Elaborating on the latest modus operandi employed by the drug peddlers, the police said that these peddlers circulate the chits of paper having their mobile phone number written on it, among the drug addicts. They also give their visiting cards to the drug addicts and to others interested in the illegal trade or even write their phone numbers on the palms of the addicts. The drugs are also supplied by dissolving the same in soft drink bottles, informed the police. In the past, these drug peddlers were caught by police for possessing drugs on their person, sometimes packaged in packets resembling that of painkillers.

A total of 69 drug peddlers have been arrested by the police and this includes 40 Indians and 29 foreign nationals. Among the foreign nationals held, Nigerians top the list followed by Nepalis and Israelis. The total value of drugs seized in the current year is around Rs 1.4 crore and 15 cases are still pending trial while 49 cases are pending investigation.

In 2009, the Anti-Narcotics Cell booked 14 cases while 17 cases were booked at other police stations in the state. The ANC seized a total of 30.785 kg of drugs valued at around Rs 87 lakh in that year while the drugs seized at other police stations in 2009 was 22.410 kg which was worth around Rs 15 lakh. Drug peddler Atala’s arrest brought to light the nexus between police and the drug peddlers and later six policemen attached to the ANC were suspended. However, the Israeli drug peddler escaped from the state after he was released by the court. The state police, however, did a commendable job by bringing to book top drug peddlers in the state’s coastal belt like David Driham alias Dudu and Sadanand Chimulkar alias Bhui.