Goan rhapsody continues…..

Most of them were chance encounters, but the relationships forged through them have stood the test of time. In early December 2005, my wife and I were at lunch with one such couple when the lady casually mentioned that in north Goa at Morjim, two Russian men ran a popular drug den, complete with trance music and attractive young ladies in attendance. Planeloads of people came from Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities to have fun at the private getaway, tucked in a remote corner of Morjim. These visitors shelled out huge sums of money as entry fee to the premises and indulged in drug abuse and merrymaking. Incredulous to begin with, I had the tip-off verified and found her information to be accurate.

An operation was planned in secrecy wherein the road leading to the private property of the Russians was blocked and all escape routes sealed. When our team raided the house, they found a rave party in full swing with young men and women high on drugs gyrating to the loud music blaring in the background. Some youngsters were lying on the floor, completely stoned. On a systematic search of the premises, kilograms of various kinds of party drugs were discovered hidden in secret cavities and crevices. The rave party was busted; the music came to an abrupt end; revellers ran helter- skelter only to find cops waiting for them at every corner. The two Russians, who were arrested on drug-related charges, were found to be on tourist visas that had long expired. Yet they were happily overstaying and running an illegal establishment for profit.

When I inquired from my officers which other businesses were being run by foreigners without valid business visas, I was surprised to learn that the number was in the hundreds.

A visitor to Goa can get the best of French, Greek, Italian or any other international cuisine at high-end, fine dining restaurants. Foodies amongst the tourists travel long distances to dine at them. I gradually realized that the owners of such restaurants were all foreigners specializing in those cuisines.

To be continued….