Israeli Drug Kingpin in Goa Disappears Again After Bail Release
Yaniv Banaim, known as the "Drug King of Goa," has vanished from Indian authorities once more, approximately 16 years after his previous disappearance. The 52-year-old from Rishon Lezion, also known as Ben Na'im and by the nickname "Atala," failed to appear on August 24 before the court handling his new drug case in Goa. The Goa Narcotics Control Unit informed the court that Banaim is now considered a fugitive, with efforts underway to locate him. A border alert has been issued to prevent his exit from India, and an arrest warrant without bail option is active against him. The next court hearing is scheduled for next month.
Banaim was arrested on April 5, 2025, at a rented house in a northern Goa resort village, where police seized 50 grams of cocaine, 110 grams of hashish, and 40,000 rupees in cash, with the drugs valued at about 870,000 rupees (approximately 27,000 shekels). Police officer Tikam Singh Verma stated that Banaim was under intelligence surveillance prior to the raid. After his arrest, Banaim was released on bail with restrictions in August 2025, but the Goa government appealed, leading the Bombay High Court in Goa to revoke the bail in July and order a new bail application, which was denied on August 14. His failure to appear at the hearing resulted in the issuance of the arrest warrant.
Additionally, Banaim faces charges for allegedly residing in India without valid passport or visa documents. Investigators found records of three different Israeli passports under his name and an Indian biometric ID card, prompting an inquiry into how the latter was issued. Banaim's name previously surfaced in a major 2010 Goa drug scandal involving alleged police collusion. After his release on bail then, he disappeared, prompting a police investigation and opposition claims of police assistance in his escape. He was later found and arrested in Peru in January 2011 and extradited back to India. Now, over 15 years after his last escape, Goa authorities are again searching for him.
