The return of the police-mafia nexus in Goa

A story concerning an Israeli drug dealer based in Goa and his involvement with the local police force has resurfaced much to the humiliation of the police authorities in Goa. The Israeli in question, Yaniv Benaim (also known as Atala) who was released on conditional bail after being implicated with the police-drug mafia nexus in Goa has disappeared, with reports claiming it is more than likely he has fled the state.

This story, which has made headlines around the world, has all the hallmarks of a classic drug story. Incorporating the involvement of a local police chief (and his son), the drug mafia, an Israeli drug dealer and a Swedish model actually called Lucky Farmhouse! The police-drug mafia nexus captured the public’s imagination after his then girlfriend Lucky, uploaded a video on a social networking site in which Atala had claimed to have been able to sell drugs along Goa’s infamous coastal region by paying off the local police forces. At one point in the video he even claimed to be paying off the Chief of local police force who regularly sold him drugs confiscated from raids including those confiscated by the magistrate, at one point in the video he even providing the police officers phone number. 

Goa’s home minister Ravi Naik claimed Atala’s disappearance (after being released on conditional bail) cannot be blamed on police who had not been keeping surveillance on Atala. He said “there are so many cases and so many accused on bail, we cannot go on keeping watch on everyone...It's not a failure of the police, we had not kept him under surveillance”. Naik (whose own son is allegedly linked with the drugs trade) went on to claim that the whole case has been whipped up by the media and that the opposition is playing a key role in hyping the mafia links to undermine the government. 'I have not even ordered a formal enquiry. He (Atala) has gone. He will come back,' Naik said.

Goa has had a long-standing reputation as a “drug-tourists” hotspot with its infamous beach-party culture being a haven for travellers. Clearly the Goan home minister is attempting to downplay the situation to save himself, his administration and local police of further embarrassment. However, in reality he seems to simply be adding to the mystery of the situation by his nonchalant remarks, particularly with accusations that his own son is somehow involved in the Goan drug mafia and other senior police officers have admitted drugs are openly sold throughout Goa.

Corruption is so often endemic in many of these tourist hot-spots throughout Asia that it is increasingly hard to believe the official version of events. Will Atala ever return to Goa? Probably not. I’m guessing the Goan police don’t want him to either as it will allow them and the media to forget this ever happened and as such, get back to business as usual. As for Lucky Farmhouse who started this whole furore with her posting of the infamous video, she’s back in her native Sweden trying to resurrect her modelling career.