PANJIM, April 5 -- Team Herald

Notorious Israeli alleged drug lord Yaniv Benaim, alias

Atala, whose arrest 15 years ago exposed the police-politicians-drug mafia nexus and resulted in the suspension of seven policemen, was arrested early on Saturday by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) with drugs worth Rs 8.7 lakh.

The ANC seized 50 grams of cocaine and 110 grams of charas, along with Rs 40,000 in cash, from Atala, who was picked up from his rented accommodation at Siolim.

Significantly, this is the first time the drug dealer has been caught with narcotics in his possession, although he had been arrested twice earlier. These arrests are for assault cases registered at the Anjuna police station in 2010 and 2019.

According to the police, A...