📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Marcosmsfs
Crime
Drug Ring Operated from Colvale Jail Using WhatsApp and UPI, Police Reveal
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 03 Aug 2026, 04:36 AM
👁 4
Police have uncovered a drug trafficking network operating from Colvale jail, using WhatsApp for coordination and UPI for payments.
Police investigations in Goa have exposed a drug trafficking ring that was run from Colvale jail. The operation used WhatsApp groups to coordinate the distribution of narcotics among inmates and staff, while payments were made through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system.
The network reportedly supplied a range of illicit drugs to the local community, with transactions recorded on UPI apps that provided a covert payment channel. The use of digital platforms allowed the operators to maintain anonymity and avoid traditional banking scrutiny.
Local authorities say the racket has had a detrimental effect on the safety of the jail’s inmates and the surrounding neighbourhood. The discovery has prompted a review of digital communication controls within the facility.
Following the findings, the police have arrested several inmates and staff members suspected of involvement. The investigation is ongoing, with officials promising a thorough probe into the extent of the network and any external links.
The network reportedly supplied a range of illicit drugs to the local community, with transactions recorded on UPI apps that provided a covert payment channel. The use of digital platforms allowed the operators to maintain anonymity and avoid traditional banking scrutiny.
Local authorities say the racket has had a detrimental effect on the safety of the jail’s inmates and the surrounding neighbourhood. The discovery has prompted a review of digital communication controls within the facility.
Following the findings, the police have arrested several inmates and staff members suspected of involvement. The investigation is ongoing, with officials promising a thorough probe into the extent of the network and any external links.