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LIQUOR AND DRUGS ARE LINKED!
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LIQUOR AND DRUGS ARE LINKED!

Uncategorized November 7, 2025 , by

By Dr Olav & Deborah Albuquerque

GOA Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has issued a stern warning against the illegal movement of alcohol in and out of Goa. He has stated that no one should bring alcohol from outside into Goa or transport Goa’s liquor illegally to other states.
Drugs and liquor are popular items for smuggling. There are international drug smuggling syndicates where high grade hashish, marijuana, cocaine and other dangerous drugs are smuggled by Nigerian drug peddlers. Some politicians are allegedly involved through their criminal contacts in this trade.
What is less lucrative is the liquor smuggling syndicate. Goa is world famous for its caju feni which is distilled by crushing cashew apples to finally distil the caju feni. What the unwary tourist is not aware of is that there is a criminal network which uses essence and injects it into water to give it a smell of cashew feni, but when you drink it you realize it is nothing but fake feni.

FAKE CAJU FENI
A FRIEND Of this writer recounted how he bought a bottle of caju feni outside the Margao railway station for Rs200. The bottle was labelled as “Golden Choice Caju Feni” — triple filtered, manufactured by Coromondal Distilleries located at Raia Salcette, Goa. When he took it to Mumbai and opened the bottle, he was shocked to see that it was nothing but water with a faint smell of caju.
He returned to the shop located just outside the Margao railway station below the overhead bridge and demanded the owner take it back. But the owner refused, leading to a shouting match. Shockingly, the railway police do not take action against the illegal sale of liquor just outside the Margao railway station on railway property, apparently without a proper licence (though this has to be verified)
.CM Sawant emphasized that authorities will take strict action against those involved in the illegal liquor trade or the production of duplicate alcohol, underlining the state government’s commitment to maintaining law and order.

ALCOHOL SMUGGLING
FOLLOWING Maharashtra’s 80% hike in alcohol duty, MLA Vijai Sardesai raised concerns that smuggling of liquor from Goa to Maharashtra has become highly profitable. Sardesai alleged that the illegal trade points to possible BJP involvement, warning that Goa is increasingly becoming a hub for illicit alcohol, with huge money allegedly flowing to the state government.
Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai has raised strong concerns over the growing menace of liquor smuggling in the state, warning that Goa is on the brink of becoming a “national synonym” for the illegal trade.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary (Finance), Sardesai reminded the government of the issue he had already raised during the recently concluded monsoon session.
He said the unchecked smuggling not only tarnishes Goa’s reputation but also endangers lives and robs the state exchequer of vital revenue. “To allow this industry to flourish unchecked is nothing short of a betrayal of public trust. This is not just a crime problem – it is a fiscal fraud against the people of Goa,” Sardesai stated.
The Goa Forward chief urged the government to take immediate and decisive action to curb the smuggling network and protect the interests of the state and its people. However, it is well known that there are “parties” at Calangute and Baga beaches in shacks where tourists are invited for a “good time.” Here, they are provided with call girls and fleeced for lakh of rupees by threatening they will be reported to the Goa Police and their passports will be impounded.
At Morjim, where a murder took place recently, loud music is played till late at night and when foreigners complain to the police, a notorious minister phones the local police station ordering the police not to take action against the offenders or their shacks would be shut down. The frightened constables obey the minister who is known for throwing his weight around and was exposed over a year ago for running several companies from a residential flat in Panjim.
Meanwhile, mining activity in Goa is picking up pace, with five of the 12 auctioned mineral blocks now operational, according to Director of Mines and Geology, Narayan Gad. Operations at Rajaram Bandekar Mines in Sirigao and the JSW-owned Cudnem mineral block began in October 2025, contributing to a combined production capacity of 5.3 million tonnes for the five active blocks.
Gad also announced that the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) plans to auction 10 iron ore mining dumps in the first week of January 2026. The dumps, estimated to contain 22 million tonnes of iron ore, are located on private lands for which conversion fees have not been paid.

MINING REVENUE
AT least a part of the earnings from the mining industry are poured into casinos, drugs, liquor smuggling and prostitution which thrives in the Calangute-Baga-Anjuna-Morjim belt. Where there are beaches, tourists flock for a good time by using drugs, liquor and women. It is here that the Russian and Nigerian crime syndicates operate with impunity. Young teenage girls like the Britisher Scarlett Keeling fall easy prey to such criminals and lose their lives.
(Dr Olav Albuquerque holds a PhD in law and is a senior journalist-cum-advocate of the Bombay high court. He is an honorary member of the Goa Union of Journalits. Deborah Albuquerque holds a CAIB, BCom and LLM degrees and is also a practising advocate of the high court.)

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