PANJIM: The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Goa Police have arrested a Russian national, Lurii Korytin, for allegedly possessing drugs worth around Rs 1 crore in the international market.
Korytin was not just a dealer. He was also a farmer, who ‘farmed’ drugs.
Addressing a press conference, North Goa Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshat Kaushal said, “The accused is identified as Lurii Korytin. From his possession we have found two kg of narcotic substance which is valued at around Rs 1 crore. During investigation it has come to light that the accused came to Goa in 2016 and started working as a DJ in some of the prominent clubs in the Morjim and Arambol area. He left Goa in 2019 and returned to Russia. Then he left for Thailand and started growing hydroponic weed there by setting up his own lab.”
“He came to Goa again in 2020. Since then he has been making trips to Goa. In 2023 he came to Goa with his wife and a six-year-old child. He was staying in a rented apartment at Siolim. He had taken a place at Paliem in Pernem where he had a nursery kind of set-up. He has said that he was using certain websites for importing seeds and after growing them at his lab he was selling to their customers using social media channels. He would receive payments through crypto currency,” Kaushal said.
The SP North said he was being interrogated to find out who his customers were and also help from Central agencies was being taken to understand the source of income through crypto currency.
Meanwhile, Lurii Korytin was produced before the Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC), who remanded him in seven days police custody.