Drug-trade, Cheating Most Common Crimes by Foreigners in Goa

By | August 3, 2017

More than 400 foreigners were booked for various crimes in Goa in the last five years, state Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar told Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Most foreign nationals who have criminal cases against them belong to Nigeria, Russia, Nepal and UK, according to the written reply submitted to a question tabled by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Times of India reported.

Booked for drug peddling, murder

Over the years, crime against foreigners has made tourists wary of the popular destination. The rape and murder of Danielle McLaughlin, a 28-year-old Irish woman, in Canacona in March this year was the latest incident to rock the state. On the other hand, crimes committed by foreigner nationals in Goa, which hosts a huge expat community, has put the local people on alert.

In the list of nature of crime, drug-trade was on top of the list, with as many as 63 cases registered under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act).

This is followed by cheating, for which 58 foreign nationals were booked. Forty six foreign nationals were booked for violation of  Foreigners Act. The number of persons of foreign nationalities booked for murder and homicide, and rioting was 16 and 21, respectively.

Crime by Foreign Nationals on Rise

In 2016, the percentage of crimes reported reduced by 11 per cent, but in January 2017, that figure rose by 9 per cent. In around 40 days into 2017, 243 cases were reported, according to the Times of India.

Last month, a Nigerian national, Augustine Okafor Olise, was arrested for allegedly peddling drugs at Baga. In June, Russian national Edward Petrovich Goryachewa was arrested for allegedly stabbing three people at Baga Beach in North Goa.

In March 2017, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar directed the police to take strict action against those involved in crime, specifically drug trade and crime against women. The following month, Parrikar put a stop to parties after 10 pm as a way to tackle the drug trade and crime in the state, Hindustan Times reported.