German national arrested in Goa with drugs worth ₹23.95 lakh

Goa's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) arrested 45-year-old German national Sebastian Hesler after seizing drugs valued at ₹23.95 lakh from his leased property in North Goa’s Small Vagator village. The raid, carried out late Monday night, led to the discovery of two kilograms of ganja, ketamine powder, ketamine liquid, and LSD blot sheets. These drugs were confiscated following a week of surveillance and intelligence gathering that traced Hesler’s activities. The operation was part of ongoing investigations into drug trafficking networks operating in the state.

Hesler, who had been staying in Goa on a tourist visa since November 2024, was found to be in possession of substances that are commonly associated with recreational drug use. Authorities confirmed that the total worth of the drugs seized amounted to ₹23.95 lakh. The raid was executed after the ANC gathered substantial evidence through human and technical surveillance, which linked Hesler to the earlier case involving Agni Sengupta, a West Bengal native arrested for possessing MDMA and cocaine.

The investigation into Hesler’s activities was initiated following the arrest of Sengupta last month, in which a commercial quantity of MDMA and cocaine valued at ₹7.5 lakh was recovered. Surveillance from this case led the ANC to focus on Hesler, who was reportedly engaged in the distribution of ketamine and LSD in Goa. The seized ketamine included both powder and liquid forms, alongside the LSD blot sheets, which are often used in the illegal drug trade.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the full extent of Hesler’s involvement in drug trafficking and whether he was connected to a larger network operating in Goa. The ANC has reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug-related crimes in the region, particularly those involving foreign nationals. Goa has seen an increase in narcotic trafficking cases, with drugs like ketamine, MDMA, and LSD being prevalent in the state’s tourist areas. The authorities are now working to identify additional individuals or groups that may be part of the same network.