Key Takeaways:

• Brown sugar seizures rose from 3kg to 10kg in three years
• Ampoules fell from 10,000 to 2,049; tablets from 843,000 to 744,000
• DIG Shekhar Khanal warns decline in tablets/ampoules signals user shift, not reduction
• Police plan border surveillance, ward-level campaigns, and tech-based monitoring

SUNSARI, AUGUST 15 The narcotic drug market in Koshi Province appears to be changing, with police seizures of brown sugar rising more than threefold in three years while those of injectable and tablet-based narcotics have steadily declined. According to the Koshi Province Police Office, around 3 kg of brown sugar was seized across the province three years ago. The amount increased to around 5 kg in fiscal year 2024/25 and reached 10 kg in FY 2025/26. Police say the sharp rise could indicate growing demand for brown sugar and an expanding supply network. The trend is markedly different for injectable narcotics. Police seized more than 10,000 ampoules three years ago, but the figure fell to around 5,000 the following year and to 2,049 ampoules last fiscal year. Seizures of tablet-based narcotics have also declined, from 843,000 tablets three years ago to 750,000 two years ago and 744,000 last fiscal year. However, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shekhar Khanal said the decline in ampoule and tablet seizures should not be interpreted as evidence that the province's drug problem is diminishing. 'The preference of users and the nature of the trade appear to be changing,' Khanal said. 'The increase in brown sugar compared with injectable and tablet-based drugs indicates that its demand and supply network are expanding.' Police plan to focus their special campaign on Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari, while extending drug-control activities to ward level in coordination with local governments. Khanal said the 427.9-kilometre open border with India remains a major challenge in controlling drug trafficking. He said surveillance would be strengthened in border areas to prevent trafficking and smuggling. The police also plan to move beyond action against individual users and investigate the source of drugs, supply chains and major dealers. Koshi Province Police spokesperson SSP Yogendra Singh Thapa said intelligence gathering, investigation and surveillance along the border would be strengthened, with greater use of CCTV cameras, technology-based monitoring and modern equipment. The growing brown sugar trade, particularly its potential impact on young people, has emerged as a major concern for security agencies, which now say identifying and dismantling the underlying supply network will be a key priority.