Indian authorities say they have uncovered a Russian drug organization that operated in the tourist area of North Goa. The leader of the group is suspected to be a Russian former police officer.
Olympic medalist in swimming Svetlana Varganova58, has been arrested on suspicion of drug offenses in the Indian state of Goa, Indian newspapers say The Indian Express (switching to another service) and The Times of India (you are moving to another service).
Representing the Soviet Union, Varganova won silver in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 1980 Summer Olympics.
India’s Narcotics Agency NCB said on Saturday that it has arrested three people suspected of belonging to a Russian-led drug organization.
In addition to Varganova, among those arrested are an Indian man and a Russian ex-policeman, who is considered the leader of the group. The NCB suspects that the ex-policeman led a network of drug dealers and sought to expand its operations to several cities.
The group operated in the Arambol Beach Village area in the north of Goa, popular with backpackers and Russian tourists.
According to NCB, Svetlana Varganova was already arrested in mid-April. Small amounts of various narcotics were found in his possession. According to the authorities, Varganova has lived in India for years and is suspected of selling drugs to foreign customers.
According to the Indian media, a total of dozens of LSD tablets, small amounts of cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine, as well as a good one and a half kilos of different cannabis products have been confiscated from the suspects. In addition, the man suspected of being the leader of the group had grown cannabis in his apartment in Goa.
Finland was the first to report on Varganova’s arrest Iltalehti (you switch to another service).