Olympic silver winner from Russia among 3 held in Goa drug bust: NCB
As per the NCB, narcotics such as LSD, cocaine and ganja were recovered after the arrests in an operation that lasted two weeks.
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The agency said the seized drugs comprise 88 blots of LSD, 8.8g of cocaine, 242.5g charas, 1.440 kg of ganja, 16.49g of hash oil, 410 g of hash cake, 2g of methamphetamine and MDMA. (Representational) An Olympic medallist from Russia, Svetlana Varganova (59), who won the silver medal in swimming at the 1980 Games, was among three persons arrested as part of an “international drug cartel” in Goa, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said on Saturday.
The other two persons include a former Russian policeman, identified as Andre, and an Indian accomplice, Akash, the NCB said. The former Russian policeman has been identified as the “kingpin”.
The operation was conducted by the NCB’s Goa unit over the last two weeks, overseen by Mumbai NCB zonal director Amit Ghawate.
An official said that surveillance was mounted following intelligence inputs that a Russian cartel was operating in Arambol and adjoining areas of Goa. On April 14, Varganova was intercepted at Arambol, and drugs recovered from her possession, the NCB said.
Further investigation reportedly led to the identification of Akash as part of the network. It was learnt that Akash was part of the larger network, and was working on the directions of a Russian person who was found to be the prime person in the cartel, said the official.
On April 28, Akash was nabbed at Arambol with drugs and some cash. The same day, the third accused, Andre, was apprehended from Mandrem area, along with some drugs.
During his spot interrogation, Andre revealed that he was growing hydroponic weed at his local residence, the NCB said. Thereafter, pots of hydroponic weed plants were reportedly recovered from his house. Andre is reported to have been operating in Goa for a long time.
An NCB official said Varganova had also been living in India for several years now. “She supplied narcotics to foreign nationals only. She also had a hookah bar set-up at home where foreigners could come and consume drugs,” said the official.
He said Andre had fake Indian documents, including an Aadhaar card. “Both Varganova and Andre have been non-cooperative, with Andre even refusing to show us where he resided in Goa,” said the official.
The NCB said it had recovered different kinds of drugs, including 88 LSD blots, 8.8 grams cocaine, 242.5 grams charas, 1.440 kg hydroponic weed, 16.49 grams hash oil, 410 grams hash cake, 2 grams methamphetamine, cash – Rs 4,88,000, US$ 1,829 and Thai Baht 1,720, and fake identity documents.
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