<p>The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an international drug cartel in Goa and arrested two Russians - a 1980 Olympic silver medal-winning woman swimmer and a former policeman - along with an Indian, besides seizing different drugs, an official said on Saturday.</p>.<p>The operation was conducted by the NCB's Goa unit over the past two weeks, he said.</p>.<p>"Based on a tip-off that a Russian drug cartel was actively operating in Arambol and its adjoining areas in Goa, a probe was launched. As per the intelligence inputs, a Russian woman named S Varganova was found involved in the supply of drugs to foreign nationals. During the investigation, we also received information that led to the identification of a local man named Akash," the NCB official said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-crime/bluru-gym-manager-accused-of-swindling-rs-23-lakh-1214018.html" target="_blank">B'luru: Gym manager accused of swindling Rs 23 lakh</a></strong><br /><br />"During further probe, it was learnt that Akash was part of a larger network and he was working on the directions of a Russian person, who acted as the kingpin of the cartel," he said.</p>.<p>Immediately after that, Akash was put under discreet surveillance. After extensive intelligence-based operations, a Russian national named Andre was apprehended and 20 LSD blots were seized from him.</p>.<p>During his spot interrogation, he revealed that he was growing hydroponic weed at his local residence, the anti-drug agency said.</p>.<p>Thereafter, tree pots of hydroponic weed plants were recovered from his house, the official said.</p>.<p>During the entire operation, different kinds of drugs, including 88 LSD blots, 8.8 grams cocaine, 242.5 grams charas, 1.440 kg hydroponic weed, 16.49 grams hash oil, 410 grams hash cake - were seized along with Rs 4.88 lakh cash, he said, adding that the NCB also recovered Indian and foreign currencies, fake documents, IDs and material required to grow hydroponic weed.</p>.<p>"The arrested Russian woman, S Varganova, is a 1980 Olympic silver medallist in swimming, while Andre is a former policeman from Russia. The latter has been operating a drug cartel in Goa since a long time. He had visited many cities to spread his network and had been managing the well spread network of street peddlers," the NCB said.</p>.<p>Along with the Russian nationals, local citizen Akash has also been arrested, the official said, adding that further investigation was on.</p>
<p>The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an international drug cartel in Goa and arrested two Russians - a 1980 Olympic silver medal-winning woman swimmer and a former policeman - along with an Indian, besides seizing different drugs, an official said on Saturday.</p>.<p>The operation was conducted by the NCB's Goa unit over the past two weeks, he said.</p>.<p>"Based on a tip-off that a Russian drug cartel was actively operating in Arambol and its adjoining areas in Goa, a probe was launched. As per the intelligence inputs, a Russian woman named S Varganova was found involved in the supply of drugs to foreign nationals. During the investigation, we also received information that led to the identification of a local man named Akash," the NCB official said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-crime/bluru-gym-manager-accused-of-swindling-rs-23-lakh-1214018.html" target="_blank">B'luru: Gym manager accused of swindling Rs 23 lakh</a></strong><br /><br />"During further probe, it was learnt that Akash was part of a larger network and he was working on the directions of a Russian person, who acted as the kingpin of the cartel," he said.</p>.<p>Immediately after that, Akash was put under discreet surveillance. After extensive intelligence-based operations, a Russian national named Andre was apprehended and 20 LSD blots were seized from him.</p>.<p>During his spot interrogation, he revealed that he was growing hydroponic weed at his local residence, the anti-drug agency said.</p>.<p>Thereafter, tree pots of hydroponic weed plants were recovered from his house, the official said.</p>.<p>During the entire operation, different kinds of drugs, including 88 LSD blots, 8.8 grams cocaine, 242.5 grams charas, 1.440 kg hydroponic weed, 16.49 grams hash oil, 410 grams hash cake - were seized along with Rs 4.88 lakh cash, he said, adding that the NCB also recovered Indian and foreign currencies, fake documents, IDs and material required to grow hydroponic weed.</p>.<p>"The arrested Russian woman, S Varganova, is a 1980 Olympic silver medallist in swimming, while Andre is a former policeman from Russia. The latter has been operating a drug cartel in Goa since a long time. He had visited many cities to spread his network and had been managing the well spread network of street peddlers," the NCB said.</p>.<p>Along with the Russian nationals, local citizen Akash has also been arrested, the official said, adding that further investigation was on.</p>