If people know where drugs are sold, why don’t Goa police: CM Sawant

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday scolded Goa police for not being able to develop better coordination to act against the drug mafia in the state. He said that if the people know where drugs are available in the state, why are Goa police not able to get this information?

Police should act against drugs as state govt has zero tolerance for drugs, Sawant, who also holds the home portfolio, said on drugs at the state-level conference to disseminate the outcome of the DGs and IGPs conference 2025.

“Why should the chief minister direct you and provide you information to seize the drugs? There was coordination between ANC and police stations. Why do we have to tell you to act specifically? We cannot track drug dealers unless we have better coordination between ANC and police stations,” he said.


Sawant said that people in Goa talk about the availability of drugs everywhere. “Why are people talking about drugs? If the common man knows about the availability of drugs, then how come you do not know about it?” Sawant questioned the police.

“Is it not your responsibility to crack down on the drug trade? Is it our duty to track and crack down on drug dealers and those who consume drugs, or is it only the duty of ANC? It is the duty of the entire police.”

Sawant said that Union home minister Amit Shah has set a target to make India drug-free by 2026. “We should not only focus on drug dealers, but also have to act against those people selling drugs in small places in the state. There should be fear in the minds of drug suppliers, and you should work and act against the drug menace,” he said.

A total of 163 drug-related FIRs were registered by Goa police in 2025, and 212 accused were arrested, including 32 foreign nationals, and drugs worth over Rs 78 crore were seized.

In 2024, Goa Police registered 162 FIRs and arrested 192 persons, and seized narcotic substances worth over Rs 9.9 crore. There was a 700% increase in the value of drug seizures in 2025 compared to 2024.