British travel advisory on theft, drugs in Goa

Panaji: A British travel advisory has identified the Goan beach villages of Calangute and Candolim as hubs of theft and bag-snatching gangs.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advisory, updated on June 13, has cautioned travellers from Britain to be "particularly careful" in order to ward off bag snatchers, who often strike in the Candolim and Calangute belt. The villages are around 20 km from Panaji and popular with foreign tourists.

"Travellers staying in hotels on the smaller roads in the Candolim-Calangute belt are advised to be particularly careful when walking to or from the main road as there have been reports of bag snatchings taking place on these stretches since the beginning of 2012," the advisory says.

"The perpetrators approach on two-wheelers with headlights on full-beam to blind their victims, snatch the bags and speed off," it says.

The advisory also cautions the British nationals of being offered spiked drinks along the coastal belt.

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"Throughout Goa, there have been reports of drinks being spiked and travellers, including British nationals, subsequently being robbed, sexually assaulted or dying.

In 2011, 21 British nationals died in Goa, up to 10 of these deaths were attributed to drug/alcohol abuse," the advisory said.

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It also advised British nationals to "avoid beaches after dark, because of the risk of being attacked by packs of stray dogs, robbed or sexually assaulted.

Avoid walking alone in isolated spots in the popular tourist areas, particularly after dark".