Panaji: The Goa crime branch, in coordination with the Delhi crime branch and the Telangana anti-narcotics bureau, busted two interstate drug networks, leading to the arrest of three accused and the seizure of commercial quantities of methamphetamine, magic mushrooms, and ganja.SP (crime branch) Rahul Gupta said the first case stemmed from the arrest of Kerala native Abhiram Pulikkal for alleged possession of narcotic substances.During sustained custodial interrogation and technical analysis of his mobile phone, investigators found that Pulikkal had earlier been arrested by the crime branch and had been lodged in Central Jail, Colvale. The probe revealed that he had allegedly established contact with Azrudeen Achi alias Asaru, a convicted accused in the same NDPS case, who was allegedly operating a drug distribution network from inside the jail. The crime branch subsequently obtained Azrudeen’s custody for further investigation.The investigation further identified Mohammed Faizan and Moosan Mukhiri, both natives of Kannur, Kerala, as associates operating from Delhi.Based on intelligence shared by the Goa crime branch, the Delhi crime branch conducted a raid and seized 151g of methamphetamine and 512g of magic mushrooms, both commercial quantities under the NDPS Act, collectively valued at Rs 40 lakh. Faizan and Mukhiri are in Delhi crime branch custody, and the Goa crime branch is initiating legal proceedings to secure their custody for further investigation.In a separate case, the crime branch arrested Kalicharan Bhol of Verem, Bardez, and seized 812g of ganja worth around Rs 80,000.During the investigation, the crime branch developed intelligence that Krishna Belgaonkar, an absconding accused in a Porvorim police station case and who was also evading trial in a murder case, was operating a narcotics network from Hyderabad. Acting on the information, the Telangana anti-narcotics bureau apprehended him, following which a Porvorim police team travelled to Hyderabad and formally arrested him.Gupta said the investigation revealed that Belgaonkar was a key ganja trafficking kingpin in Goa who allegedly continued coordinating the supply of ganja into the state through associates while absconding for nearly 18 months.
