DRUGS TRADE THRIVING IN GOA

With apologies to Vasco Da Gama, welcome to the tourist paradise that's now facing a drug-laced foreign invasion, fatal and much worse than the Portuguese invasion. With Goa becoming a haven of drugs, rave and sex, its beaches have become a major market for foreign narcotics dealers. While Russians have taken over the drug business in Morjim and Arambol beaches in Pernem, Israelis run the show at Vagator. The Scotts trade in Calangute and Baga, while the Nigerians and Kenyans dominate Candolim. Many of the Goans themselves are not too far behind. In the once hippie heartland of Anjuna, local boys are the main narco dealers. In 2005, the International Narcotics Control Board, India, had released a list of 248 major drug peddlers in the country, 90% of whom operate in North Goa. A year later, Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes raised the issue of drug sale and also presented a list of drug dealers in the assembly. But everyone is "untouchable" in this sordid nexus between the peddlers, police and locals. Fernandes said drug abuse is high here. "I fear that soon the international drug lords will fight to gain dominance on Goa's turf," he said. However, home minister Ravi Naik maintains that his uniformed men ensure that there is no drug abuse in Goa. Investigations reveal that every tourist season popular drugs like cocaine, MDMA and ecstasy tablets are imported and sold at trance or rave parties in Goa. This year alone, approximately 500 kg of cocaine has been smuggled in to Goa by Nigerians and sold to locals by Kenyans. One gram of cocaine costs Rs 3,000 to 4,500. An ecstasy tablet ranges between Rs 400 and 1,000 and a gram of pink and white powder of MDMA costs anything between Rs 1,000 to 4,000, depending on whether it's tourist season or not. The Israelis mainly deal in LSD, which costs about Rs 400 per drop. The drug business runs so deep that it involves not just dealers and runners (employed at shacks and on boats to carry drugs), but also 'hiders' and a 'Mr Fixer'. "While the 'hider' hides the drugs for the dealer, 'Mr Fixer' coordinates the trade and ensures that the business goes on peacefully. While the former gets Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh a month, 'Mr Fixer' gets a commission on every matter he sorts out," explained a rave party organizer. A shack owner in Anjuna said that cops protect the trade as they too earn a cut. Interestingly, top police officials admit there are some in the force who are complicit in the drug racket, but say they are helpless to deal with it. "Every cop and local knows who the drug dealers are. Yet Goa police's Anti-Narcotics Cell seem to go after the drug abusers rather than the drug dealers," said Fernandes.