Several Private Taxi Drivers Selling Drugs In Goa?

PANAJI: Chef and gourmet home cook-turned film-maker and script writer Sonya Kaur, who is based in Mumbai, on a recent trip to Goa about two months ago, has claimed that she and her partner were offered “maal” meaning drugs by a taxi driver.

Speaking to this reporter, Kaur said: “When we walked out of the Dabolim airport in Goa, we were mobbed by taxi drivers. We finally managed to get one who was a bit cheaper than the others. We had to travel to Candolim from the airport and this particular driver offered to take us to our destination for Rs 300 cheaper than the others and we grabbed the offer. However, once we sat in his cab and moved about 3 kms away from the airport, we realized that the taxi driver was doubling up as a drug peddler. He offered us “maal” and said he could get us anything we wanted at the best prices in Goa. He was quite persistent and keep badgering us. My partner who is a lawyer, sternly told him that he would report him to the police and pulled out his mobile phone to dial 100. This is when the taxi driver profusely apologized and kept his mouth shut for the rest of the journey. As we did not want to spoil our vacation, we left the matter at that,” Kaur explained.

Last week, the Calangute police arrested Prathamesh Palyekar, a resident of Mangor Hill, Vasco for selling drugs to a tourist from Hyderabad.

According to a Herald report, Devinani Chaudhry arrived from Hyderabad at the Dabolim Airport and travelled to Calangute in a taxi. He was subsequently admitted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim after suffering a drug overdose in the hotel.

He felt unwell in the taxi itself after consuming some narcotic substance, which he allegedly purchased from the taxi driver.

The Calangute police later filed a complaint against Chaudhry after his discharge from the hospital and during his interrogation he confessed to the police that the drugs were sold to him by a taxi driver from Vasco.

Based on information obtained from Chaudhry, the Calangute cops tracked the taxi driver at Aldona and arrested him.

The police later found that Palyekar did not have a valid driving license and was masquerading as a taxi driver, selling drugs to tourists.

Several tourists have complained that they have been offered drugs by taxi drivers. From the above two cases, it is obvious that dubious elements and peddlers are now masquerading as taxi drivers (and even motorcycle pilots) to sell drugs in the tourist destination.