Interpol arrests Israeli drug baron wanted by Goa police

Wanted Israeli drug baron Yaniv Benaim alias Atala has been nabbed by Interpol in his home country, a senior police officer said today.

Deputy inspector general of police Ravindra Yadav said that they have received a fax informing about Atala's arrest in Israel.

The drug baron was a main link in the policemen-drug peddlers nexus case in which seven officers were arrested for allegedly pushing narcotics in the state's coastal belt.

Yadav said that Goa police will now expedite proceedings to get Atala extradited.

The Israeli drug lord was last seen in Goa on July 23, 2010 by the crime bBranch. He went missing on August 7, 2010 when crime branch called him for recording his statement.

Atala was arrested by the crime branch on March 11, 2010 after his ex-girlfriend Lucky Farmhouse exposed tapes which show him confessing about his links with the police. Later he got bail, and fled the country.

The nexus probe had even led police to state home minister Ravi Naik's son Roy, who was accused by Lucky of frequenting their place in Anjuna in Goa.

The investigation - after Atala's confession - had led to series of arrests including that of former anti-narcotic cell chief Ashish Shirodkar.

The probe had revealed that the drugs seized by police had gone missing many times.