North Goa: The Ribandar crime branch in Goa has arrested a Ghanaian national on charges of possessing a “commercial quantity” of 60 MDMA tablets, totaling approximately 26 grams.
The suspect, identified as Sebastian Duah (35), was detained late Friday night by a crime branch team led by Police Inspector Vikas Deykar. A six-member team, including ASI Sriram Salgaonkar, HC Mangesh Deshpande, PC Sushant Pagi, PC Rupesh Gaikwad, and PC Prakash Utkuri, conducted a narcotics operation near the cemetery in Rauta Vaddo, Bardez, Goa, between 8:58 PM and 11:25 PM.
During the raid, the authorities found a transparent polythene packet containing 60 pink, brown, and orange tablets in rectangular and triangular shapes, which are suspected to be Ecstasy Tablets/MDMA. The crime branch reported that the weight of the psychotropic substance was 26.304 grams, estimated to be worth approximately ₹15,00,000 in the international market. The drugs were concealed in the rear storage compartment of a blue Yamaha Fascino scooter.
The crime branch has registered a case against Duah under Section 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS). Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
In a related incident earlier on April 5, an Israeli national, Yaniv Benaim, was arrested by Goa Police’s Anti Narcotics Control team for allegedly possessing cocaine and charas valued at ₹8.7 lakh. Benaim was apprehended during a raid in Siolim while reportedly attempting to flee India. He was on bail for another case in Uttarakhand.
Additionally, on March 28, police in South Goa conducted an awareness campaign aimed at students, local taxi drivers, and the general public to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking, urging the community to assist law enforcement in addressing the drug problem. The South Goa Superintendent of Police stated, “Awareness drive among Youth/Students, local taxi drivers & the general public conducted on Drug Abuse & illicit Trafficking, appealing for community engagement & assisting Police to curb the illicit drug menace in society.
