Panaji, Dec 21 (IANS) Customs officials Monday busted an international ketamine export racket operating from a post office in the state, an official said Monday.
Officials of the narcotics wing of the Customs and Central Excise said that pharmacist Norman Azavedo has been arrested for smuggling ketamine to some European countries through parcels dispatched from the post office in Mapusa, 13 km from here.

Ketamine, a powerful veterinary tranquiliser and a scheduled drug, is used by foreigners as a substitute for conventional drugs like cannabis and marijuana. The drug is easily available in pharmacies located in Goa’s coastal belt as its sale is legal but export is banned.

“Today (Monday), we have seized 9.99 gm of ketamine liquid and several tablets in the seized parcels, which were marked to several European countries. In a subsequent raid at his residence, we seized 212 gm more. All the seized drugs are valued at Rs.2.73 lakh,” a customs official said, declining to be named.

Azavedo, who was booked once for a similar offence last year, runs three pharmacies in the popular coastal belt of Baga-Calangute in north Goa.

“After the offence last year, the Food and Drugs Administration had suspended the licence of one of his pharmacies. He has been now remanded in 14 days’ custody,” the official said.