Panaji: Two persons, including a Nigerian national, have been arrested by the Goa Crime Branch for allegedly possessing cocaine worth Rs 15.89 lakh in the international market, police said on Monday.
According to a senior official, a raid was conducted in the early hours of February 6 at Pilerne Marra in Bardez taluka, during which the accused were found in possession of 31.794 grams of suspected cocaine.
Police said the raid was carried out between 1.10 am and 4.10 am on Gautam Hotel Road, proceeding towards Goan Paradise Colony, near an electricity pole, by a team led by Police Inspector Mahesh Gadekar of the Crime Branch.
The main accused has been identified as Omorigo Friday (42), a Nigerian national. The contraband, a white crystal powder suspected to be cocaine, along with other articles and a Yamaha Fascino scooter bearing registration number GA 03 AU 6318, was seized under a search and seizure panchanama.
An offence under Sections 21(b), 25 read with 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, has been registered at the Crime Branch Police Station (Crime No. 07/2026).
Subsequently, Sudhir Gurudas Paleinkar (42), a resident of Sangolda in North Goa, was also arrested on February 8 in connection with the case.
Both the accused are currently in police custody. Further investigation is being carried out by PI Mahesh Gadekar, police said.
