Israeli Drug Suspect 'Atala' Surrenders to Court in Northern Goa
Yaniv Benaim, known as the Israeli drug king of Goa, surrendered to a court in northern Goa on Wednesday after being declared a fugitive following a drug raid.
Yaniv Benaim, an Israeli national known as "Atala" and dubbed by Indian media as the "Israeli drug king of Goa," surrendered on Wednesday to a court in northern Goa after weeks as a fugitive, following a non-bailable arrest warrant and a lookout notice issued against him.
Surrender and Judicial Detention
Benaim, 52, originally from Rishon LeZion, appeared around midday at the court in Mapusa, northern Goa, on the final deadline set by the Bombay High Court in Goa. Following the hearing, he was remanded to judicial custody and transferred to the central prison in Colvale. His petition for bail is currently pending before the High Court and is scheduled to be heard on September 21.
"Yaniv Benaim appeared in court to comply with the Bombay High Court directive, ending weeks of being classified as a fugitive by local authorities," law enforcement sources noted.
Background of the Drug Case
The current legal proceedings stem from an April 5, 2025 raid, in which police searched a rented house in Siolim, northern Goa, allegedly recovering 50 grams of cocaine, 110 grams of hashish, and cash. Although initially released on bail in August 2025, the state of Goa appealed the decision, leading the High Court to revoke the bail and order a fresh review.
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Arrested in Siolim on April 5, 2025.
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Bail revoked by the High Court in July.
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Surrendered on the final deadline in September.
This is not the first time Benaim has evaded authorities in the region. His name was previously linked to a major drug scandal in 2010, after which he fled India and was eventually tracked down in Peru in January 2011 before being extradited back.
