This Article is From Mar 09, 2010

He helped expose alleged Goa police-drugs nexus

He helped expose alleged Goa police-drugs nexus
Panaji: Goa police on Tuesday detained an alleged drug-peddler whose statements caught on spy camera purportedly exposed a police-drug nexus, that led to the suspension of five officials.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Sammy Tavares said on Tuesday afternoon, "Yaniv Banaim alias Atala was detained by Pernem police and will be handed over to the crime branch."  He said Banami, an Israeli national, had spilled beans on the police-drug peddler nexus in the state, which was caught on a hidden camera in a sting operation and telecast by a local news channel.

The video was also uploaded on popular website youtube.com, which named police inspector Ashish Shirodkar, the official said.

 Five policemen including Shirodkar have been suspended following the release of the tape. Tavares said that crime branch, which is investigating the police-drug peddler nexus, will be interrogating Banaim.

The Israeli, who was earlier booked in a drugs case, was deported in 2006 but had managed to come back to Goa. Police said he ran a drug trade in the coastal belt flocked by tourists.

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