GOA IS A TRANSIT POINT FOR DRUGS: DYSP D'SA

Panaji: "Goa is a transit point for all the drug peddlers and from
here drugs like charas, hashish and ganja are being pushed and
ecstasy, LSD and cocaine come here from western countries," said the
anti-narcotics cell chief, and the deputy superintendent of police,
Mr Allan D'Sa.

Mr D'Sa informed the gathering about the drugs entering into Goa from
areas like Rajasthan and Kulu Manali in the northern belt besides
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal and added that drug peddlers come
mostly by train from Delhi and drugs are delivered directly to the
coastal belt.

He said, "There is an urgent need to bridge the police-public gap to
get information about drug use, abuse and peddling it would be a
tough proposition for the ANC to curb the menace unless it gets the
co-operation of the people,"

He was speaking as the guest speaker at an interactive session
organised by the Indian Red Cross Society on the occasion of the
International Day Against Drug abuse and illicit trafficking at its
premises in the city this evening. He added that the public should be
sensitised about the use and abuse of the drug along with the
prevailing punishment under NDPS Act.

He said this northern belt acts as a transit point for drug peddlers
and usually hashish, charas go out but in comes ecstasy, LSD and
cocaine mostly from western countries.

"He said that the anti-narcotics cell needs information and members
of the public should provide us with information and the missing gap
between police-public should be bridged," he stated.

Dr Anil Rane, a practicing psychiatrist highlighted the audience with
his experiences and personal encounter with drug dependants not only
in India but in United Kingdom. He said that drug consumers become
addict when the person feels his survival is threatened without the
use of drugs.

Dr Rane said there are many factors like psychological, social and
genetic which governs the drug users' mind and this could be overcome
only through change in attitude, change in habits, providing a
replacement, switching over to sports, music, besides monitoring
after detoxifying them.

Mr Soter Fernandes said the drug menace has become a societal disease
in Goa and attributed this to the politicians who had kept the state
away from the cultural main stream.

A concerned resident from Pernem blamed the tourism policy of the
government for turning a Nelson's eye to what the foreign visitors
are doing for the sake of tourism.

A teacher from Don Bosco High school said parents should be
sensitised to the problem of their wards and this was the only way to
control the drug use.

The honorary secretary of IRCS and former UNI chief, Mr Jagdish Wagh
informed the audience about when and how the drugs invaded coastal belt of Goa.

Dr Kelekar, Dr Shushrut Martins and Mr Damodar B Bhonsule also spoke.

The vice-chairman of IRCS, Mr Gaurish Dhond, Mr Gangaram Moraskar
member were also present among other dignitories. The member of the
IRCS managing committee, Mr Damodar Bhonsule, displayed an excellent
old collection of his various books on drug abuse and alcohol
anonymous. The exhibition will remain open for public view.