No existence of 'drug mafia' in state: Goa CM

Panaji, Feb 21 : Goa Home CMinister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday informed State Legislative Assembly that there was no existence of 'drug mafia' in the state.

In a written reply tabled by Leader of House Sudin Dhavalikar in response to a starred question tabled by MLAs Clafasio Dias, Digambar Kamat, Antonio Fernandes, Wilfred D'Sa and Isodore Fernandes, the Chief Minister said,''There is no existence of ‘Drug Mafia’ in Goa. However, Goa being a Tourist destination, narcotic drugs are smuggled in Goa for trade, consumption and transit. The drug dealers/suspects involved in narcotic activities operate in clandestine and well organised manner. The information about narcotic activities is collected through sources and raids are conducted and the perpetrators of these crimes are arrested.''

He said upon receipt of specific or reliable information from the sources, raids were conducted for illegal possession of drugs wherein different types of drugs were seized.

As per directives received from Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, Anti Narcotic Task Force Committee had been formed under the Chairmanship of DIG ANC.

He denied that latest drugs have been launched in Goa and advertised on the internet.

The written reply was tabled by Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, who has been chosen as the leader of the House as Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai.