The medalist of the 1980 Olympics was detained in India for drugs

Russian woman Svetlana Varganova was detained in the Indian state of Goa on charges of drug trafficking. She is a former athlete, silver medalist of the 1980 Olympics in swimming. According to the Indian police, she was found to have various types of prohibited substances, including LSD, cocaine, methamphetamine and hashish oil. According to the investigation, Varganova acted as part of an organized group that sold drugs to foreign resort guests.

Together with Varganova, two more people were detained. Law enforcement agencies consider them accomplices. One of them is also a citizen of Russia, a former policeman, the second is an Indian. All three are suspected of involvement in an international drug cartel.

The Indian Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said that the operation to catch drug dealers in Goa had been going on for two weeks. According to the police, the “Russian cartel” was part of a wider network of criminals.

The NCB also said that Varganova has been living in the state of Goa for several years. According to the police, she sold drugs exclusively to foreigners. She opened a hookah bar at her home, where tourists could also buy and use prohibited substances.

• Svetlana Varganova was born in 1964 in Leningrad. She is the Honored Master of Sports of the USSR. In 1979, she set a world record in breaststroke at a distance of 200 meters. At the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, she won a silver medal. In 1982, she became a gold medalist at the World Swimming Championships in Guayaquil.