--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2008 International Goan Convention Toronto, Canada
Early Bird Discount Registration closes March 31, 2008 http://www.2008goanconvention.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dears, Here is one well researched and presented article on the drug underbelly that Barkha Dutt failed to expose on NDTV's "WE, THE PEOPLE" ....perhaps because the "hidden agenda" of property deals kept popping up! ;-) Drugs: Scarlette case a tip of the iceberg by Glenn Costa Panaji, March 16 Scarlette Eden Keeling's rape and murder has opened a virtual Pandora's box as the media attention, local, national and international have brought the seedy underside of the Goan tourist trade and the underlying drug trade under spotlight in sharp contrast to the usual singing praises of Goa's pristine coastline as well as its thriving nightlife. It has also shifted the focus to the new "alternate" lifestyle that is in vogue among the ˜rough round the edges" foreign tourists today, who come from a financial 'middle class' background but are with a manual labour background. Workmen like plumbers, carpenters or general maintenance people are highly prized and paid well in the west. These are the people seen in Goa and are known to indulge in this type of lifestyle, say insiders in the know. While the Tourism Minister has gone on record about the drug scene, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kishen Kumar does not deny that drugs are freely available in the state and argues that this is why almost Rs 50 lakh of drugs have been seized this year and that is not including the latest ganja seizure at Porvorim the other day. He also agrees that the seizures are a tip of the iceberg. Reportedly even with the most sophisticated equipment used by the US authorities the seizures still account for a miniscule amount of the total drugs trafficked. Goa had around 2.5 million visitors last year, including 3,80,000 foreigners, of whom 1,60,000 were British. Goa has evolved from a place where drugs were sold at rave parties to a transit point for drugs to and from various European countries as well as becoming a centre for production of party drugs. Police sources say that drugs like ecstasy, charas, LSD, cocaine, ganja or marijuana or grass as it is popularly known, MDMA, a popular party drug, which goes for around Rs 400 per tablet and heroin are common today, though today heroin does not have the same popularity that it enjoyed in the 70s and 80s. Sources say the charas and ganja come from the Kullu-Manali region and Nepal while opium comes from Rajasthan. Cocaine comes from Latin America and is transported mostly by "mules" or drug carriers, who are minors many-a-times, either by air or sea to Delhi or Mumbai and then the consignment finds its way to Goa and MDMA or LSD comes from Europe and Charas goes to Europe from Goa. If charas costs Rs 100 per gm in Goa its cost is hundreds of times more there and so it is profitable to send and difficult to detect unless they have specific information, say police. Some locals say that the drugs trade is not organised, or that shacks are involved while others say that it is controlled by a small handful of local men. However, they deny that foreign women are taken advantage of. Proof of minors being used in the drug trade was the arrest of an Italian minor girl who was caught at the Dabolim airport when she was about to board an Indian Airlines Mumbai to Auckland flight last year. This arrest exposed a Goa-based Israeli drug racket that was using this method to transport drugs out of the country. Cases of a German and an Israeli boy are also pending before the courts. Minors are being used to outwit the system as according to the Juvenile Justice Act, if a juvenile commits a bailable or non-bailable offence, he or she shall be released on bail with or without surety. Further detention can only be at a home and not in a prison while according to the tough Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act the possession of drugs of less than ten gram is for individual consumption and worthy of a minimum sentence of six months while anything above ten gram rates a ten-year sentence and a fine of Rs 1,00,000. Any subsequent offence entails in a much higher penalty. Sources say that the smuggling of ketamine, which is a combination of cocaine and the anaesthetic ketamine involves Italian, German, English and Scottish drug dealers who operate from Europe and using 'charter tourists' as carriers or couriers as a means to transport the stuff. Dr Praveen Tippat from the St Anthony's Hospital at Anjuna says that he sees usage of drugs like heroin, cocaine, MDMA, LSD and ketamine along this coastal belt as they deal with drug overdose victims as the hospital also serves as a detox centre. He says that cases of overdoses among foreigners are quite frequent and the incidence is higher when there are parties or during the flea market. The 20-bedded hospital and detox centre has 4 doctors. He says that during season his hospital gets at least 15-20 cases on an average reiterating that even this year people have died of overdose, the latest being a few days back when a married person expired of overdose. The Kripa Foundation, which is also based in Anjuna, also deals with drug addicts as well as alcoholics. Ms Pamela, who has been with Kripa for the last 20 years says that it is the only drug and alcohol rehab centre in the North. However, she says that that they do not keep foreigners as residents but only counsel them. She informs that there are quite a few cases of foreigners coming to them for such counselling. She is of the opinion that there is a major problem along the coastal belt as drugs are freely available along this belt. She says, "During a given month there are at least 5-6 foreigners who come for counselling." The statistics of Kripa are quite illuminating though they include both drug users and alcoholics. In 2006 there were a total of 119 residents; in 2007-173 and in 2008 till date â€" 100. However, for 1996 the number of inmates was 49 and in 1997 it was 73, which is an almost exponential rise. Locals say that tourism has affected this place quite badly as the availability of easy money has become common. They say that youngsters do 'odd jobs' like carrying out errands and get paid well by these foreigners. Shack owners say that the police should take action as the drug trade is spoiling business here. Also say that since the Scarlette case has affected business. Mr Francis Fernandes, the president of the Anjuna Flea Market Association now registered as the St Michael Waddo Landlord Welfare Association says that the fleas market was registered in 2001 and at that time had 3,000 shops. He says that the panchayat floats a tender and that person who gets the tender collects sopo from the people who set up shop here. He says that tourist business is good here but the Scarlette episode has affected the tourism and spoilt the name of Anjuna. He argues that cops should not allow foreigners to roam around at night and step up patrolling and not allow shacks to remain open so late at night. ENDS -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.