RUSSIAN ROULETTE

Ruling the roost?

PETER DE SOUZA & PREETU NAIR

* "Sound" man: Provider of imported sound systems from Singapore for Rave parties. "Sound" man protected the Israelis from police and also ensured that the Israelis got political patronage, essential for hassle-free trade in the coastal belt. Later, he brokered a truce between the warring Israelis and Russians.
* Baba: A man with long hair running up to his waist, which appears as a bun over his head, he portrays himself as a hermit. He sits near the sound system and gives dakshina to the public in the form of drugs at rave parties, ensures quick compromise when a drug dealer is in trouble.
* Aspee: A Russian, believed to be the King of Coke, he is also one of the best DJs in the world. In the international market he charges $ 2000 per hour to play.
* Baba brothers: They were partners in crime with the alleged Russian drug lord Alexis, who was recently deported from the country. They helped the Russians reach a truce with the Israelis.


PANJIM: Changes can't be prevented, especially when it concerns mafia, drug lords and the sun-kissed beaches of Goa. Anjuna, once known for its flower children has been witnessing constant changes, thanks to the mafia dons who have dominated the area with their drug trade since 1980.

If in the 1980s the Nigerians and Kenyans flourished in the coastal belt in the drug trade, then in the early 90s it was the Israeli mafia who spread their tentacles in Anjuna. And now it is the Russians, who are kingpins of the drug and the flesh trade in the Northern coastal belt. "They want to convert the place into mini-Russia," observed DIG Ujjwal Mishra.

The Israelis, mostly backpackers and soldiers, who came to Anjuna as tourists, became successful drug dealers in the early 90s with the support of Anjuna locals. "Such was the patronage of the locals to the Israeli dealers that Anjuna residents banned Nigerians and Kenyans from entering the trade, confining them to the Calangute belt," said a top police official.

By 1997, Israelis ruled the coastal belt with the help of the locals and more and more Israelis poured into Anjuna to take up the drug trade. "Between 1997 and 99, there was much hatred for the Nigerian and Kenyan drug dealers. The locals, who were Israeli supporters, often beat and threaten them. Soon they were shunted out of the business as well as the area," said the police official.

But Israelis brought along with them not just drugs but also Rave parties. It is reliably learnt that an Assagao based "Sound" man, who is the sole provider of imported sound systems from Singapore for the Rave parties, provided protection to the Israeli drug dealers. "Israelis have invested large amounts of money in these sound systems. In return the Assagao based "Sound" man ensured protection to the Israelis from the police and also ensured that the Israelis got political patronage that was essential to let their trade flourish in the coastal belt," said a top police official.

Besides the "Sound" man, another person Baba, who portrays himself as a hermit ensures that when a drug dealer is in trouble a compromise is reached at the earliest. He sits near the sound system and gives dakshina to the public in the form of drugs during the rave parties.

From 1997 to 2004, there was a spree of rave parties, where only Israelis were allowed to form the DJ line-up. But these rave parties were limited only to Anjuna.

Even though Russians arrived in the state in 2002, they didn't immediately start work. "They descended on Ashvem, Pernem and asked their man DJ Aspee in Goa to study the drug trade scenario in Goa. In 2003-2004 the Russian mafia, which is the most powerful one in the world today, extended their base in Morjim and with local and political support invested in 1.5 lakh square meters of land," said a source.

After extending their tentacles to Dubai, Singapore, Bahrain, Egypt, most of Asia and Gulf, they finally decided to invest in Goa. It is reliably learnt that in 2004, Russians entered the drug trade in Anjuna and the dealers tried to transact business at a controversial rave venue, which is situated on a hill top in Anjuna.

By 2005, they started having regular rave parties at different venues in Pernem. The reason for holding it at different venues is that if there was any drug related death then no one could be held accountable. Slowly, Russians began pouring in large numbers to Goa with women and MDMA (ecstasy tablet, which gives an orgasm for around six hours).

In the past, Israelis had limited themselves to LSD and cocaine, while the Russians specialised in MDMA and high quality cocaine. But when the Russians started gaining popularity, the Israelis joined hands with the locals and monopolised in charas. Our sources reveal that thousands of acres of fields were brought by the Israelis along with their Goan counterparts in Kulu Manali. Charas was grown here in large quantity and they have also set up 16 resorts in Kulu Manali, from where they control 40 percent of the charas trade.

However, with the growing command of the Russians in the trade, the Israelis felt threatened and a massive fight broke out between them. The mighty and by now powerful Russians beat up the Israelis at the same rave venue from where the Russians had started business, thereby ensuring that no Israeli in the Northern belt could operate without the help of Russian mafia.

However, the "Sound" man again with the help of Baba brothers struck a truce between the two warring factions because the mafia war was badly affecting their trade. It must be recalled that Anjuna based Baba brothers were partners in crime with an alleged Russian drug lord Alexis, who was recently deported from the country. "A subtle understanding was reached and it was decided that they wouldn't interfere in each other's business or wander into each other's territory," said the police official.

Lords move from Anjuna to Pernem

Anjuna's loss is Pernem's gain! Ever since GT exposed the drug trade in Anjuna with the help of the local cops and ANC, the Anjuna PI Rajesh Kumar has put his foot down and not allowed any rave parties to be held in his jurisdiction, which was once the unofficial haven for supplying drugs and flesh trade.

After GT exposed how a constable from Anjuna police station and two from the ANC, who had managed to sneak out a list of the drug dealers prepared by the National Narcotics Control Board and used it to extort money from dealers, SP Sharad Agrawal has been hunting for the dealers. The dealers on the other hand took shelter in Pernem. Once in Pernem and under constant watch of the police, the two conflicting mafia gangs - Israelis and Russians - decided to work in harmony. Almost every alternate day, they organise rave parties at the Sweet water lake, Arambol, Morjim and Ashvem beaches.

Once again, the Assagao based "Sound" man, played the connecting factor, between the Israelis and Russian. However, everyone takes orders from Aspee, who is alleged to be the biggest Russian dealer. "He is one of the most elusive dealer and has given us a tough time. Besides he is also one of the best DJs in the world and charges $ 2000 per hour to play in the international market," said a top police official. Aspee is the main attraction at any rave party and foreign tourists flock like bees to a honeycomb to a rave party whenever Aspee is playing.

In Goa, all other DJs who perform at rave parties are under his control and only if he gives permission they play, the source added. Meanwhile, Aspee, who lives in Assagao, moves around with a rough and tough looking middle-aged Russian woman, who is allegedly involved in the supply of young Russian girls between the age of 14 and 17 to customers. She is also known to be Aspee's bodyguard.

Our sources reveal that the dealers had brought almost 100 kg of cocaine this season and hafta of Rs 20 lakh was allegedly paid to the police as instalment to look the other way. The only market for cocaine is at the rave party. With no rave parties in Anjuna and the dealers on the run, there was panic among the dealers because if the cocaine were not sold during the peak season - December to February, crores of rupees would have been lost. If kept for long then cocaine loses its freshness and the prices drop. But thankfully, they found a new and safe destination at Pernem.

(Story appeared in GT Weekender, Panjim edition, India)