Goa: Anjuna restaurant owner arrested in drugs case, alleged to be bulk drugs supplier

PANAJI: The Hyderabad (Telangana) police arrested “one of the biggest drug dealers” who runs three beach-side restaurants and clubs in Anjuna and two more restaurants in North Goa and others in (Shimla) Himachal Pradesh and at Rajasthan, reports said.

Anjuna Panchayat sources when contacted were not willing to share information regarding the properties, restaurants and clubs owned or operated by the accused whose name was revealed as  I Balmurugan.

Balmurugan the drug dealer who was nabbed by the Hyderabad cops – reportedly on the confession of Curlies owner Edwin Nunes, has been arrested in the past for drug peddling and sale and has several cases registered against him for possession and sale of narcotics.

He was operating from the Anjuna-Vagator belt, supplying drugs to several clubs and restaurants in the locality.

The suspected interstate bulk supplier identified as Balmurugan was arrested from Goa on Thursday on charges of peddling high-grade drugs like cocaine, MD and other synthetic and chemical drugs including LSD in the tourist-populated coastal belt in North Goa, a report in The Goan stated.

“He has been actively involved in smuggling Hash Oil and Malana Cream from Himachal Pradesh to Goa. His interrogation will throw more light on his modus operandi, partners in crime and customers,” a senior officer with the Osmania University police in Hyderabad city, told The Goan.

The arrested accused runs three popular beach-side restaurants in Anjuna, and one each in (Shimla) Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, .reports claimed.

“We are investigating if his outlets were operating as a den to push drugs,” the Hyderabad cop was quoted by the publication.

The arrested accused, who has been living in Goa for the last 5 years, was immediately taken to Hyderabad on Thursday after obtaining a transit remand by the Hyderabad police team.

The Hyderabad cops took assistance from the Goa police to trace the businessman who was not available at his known address and had gone underground after the arrest of Curlies shack owner Edwin Nunes.

The Hyderabad police first arrested a drug peddler Pritesh Borkar and then nabbed Hill Top club owner John Stephen D’Souza aka Steve, and a few others in Goa and Hyderabad. After a long chase lasting weeks, they were able to arrest Curlies owner Edwin Nunes who has been granted bail by the Hyderabad court in some of the cases.

There are at least three FIRs registered at various police stations in Hyderabad by the Telangana cops.