From Our special correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
 
Panaji, Aug 11: Goa government has alleged that a Bangalore-based drug manufacturing firm was illegally pushing ketamine drug in the state which is wanted by drug addicts as a substitute to ecstasy tablets.
 
“It is illegally manufactured in Bangalore from where it is supplied to various pharmacies in Goa. The drug addicts including foreigners prefer to consume it as it is an alternate to ecstasy,” state health minister Vishwajeet Rane said.
 
The state health department along with Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has commenced the drive to check the `illegal sale of ketamine’ across the counters in various state pharmacies.
 
Rane said that the licences of two pharmacies from Calangute village in coastal belt were cancelled recently while show cause notices are slapped on three pharmacies in coastal villages of Chapora and Candolim for selling the drugs without prescription.
 
“Ketamine is a general anesthetic drug. But drug addicts usually consume it by mixing it in a cold-drink for a kick. The pharmacies are not supposed to sale it without proper prescription from the doctor,” the health minister said.
 
The health authorities have also discovered that the bottle of ketamine which usually costs around Rs 110 is sold for five times more price, which is purchased by desperate drug habitués.
 
Continuing their raids on various pharmacies, the state government has also asked the central customs and excise department to audit the sale in the state in order to curb its paddling on state’s drug ravaged coastal belt