Pernem: Goa Police have on Friday arrested four Russians for trafficking narcotics at Mandrem, a village in North Goa’s beach belt.
Superintendent of Police (North) Chandan Chaudhury said that Pernem Police station conducted various raids in which all the Russians were arrested along with narcotics including chemical drugs.
She said that the larger racket of drug paddling was unearthed after police team initially raided the house of Ilia Alexsandrovich Shtennikov (30), a Russian national who was found cultivating cannabis plants at his rented apartment.
The accused during the initial interrogation revealed that there were more Russians who were involved in the narcotics trade in the area.
“During the course of interrogation of accused, it was revealed that there are some foreigners staying in a particular house at Mandrem and are also suspected to be dealing in narcotics,” Chaudhury said.
Accordingly, the house of the suspects was raided during which haul of narcotics was found.
The SP said that police arrested another Russian, Radik Vafin (35) who was found in possession of MDMA and Ganja, both worth Rs 2.09 lakhs.
Third accused Evgenii Zakharin (38) was found with Ecstacy tablets, MDMA and Ganja all worth Rs 2.38 lakh, she said.
Chaudhury said that the fourth accused Igor Markov (32) was found possessing Ecstacy tablets and Ganja, all worth Rs 7 lakhs.
All the accused were arrested under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
Chaudhury said that during further interrogation, accused Radik Vafin disclosed that he along with the other accused have committed number of ATM thefts by using Gas Cutter, Explosive Substance and also attemptes to break open the ATM machines.
