Kathmandu, May 16

The Narcotics Control Bureau has arrested two persons for allegedly attempting to smuggle hashish abroad in a parcel through General Post Office, Sundhara.

According to NCB, Ratna Bahadur Tamang, 49, and Purusottam Thapaliya, 36, were preparing to get a parcel containing 530 grams of the illegal drug registered with the post office when plain-clothes cops arrested them yesterday, on the basis of a tip-off. NCB said destination of the intercepted hashish was Russia. Those arrested have been kept in the NCB custody for further inquiry.

NCB said over a dozen persons were arrested for attempting to smuggle or for smuggling drugs by concealing the contraband in consignments of henna, hemp oil and handicraft items through the post office and private courier services. Sending consignment of drugs through parcel is relatively easier as the packages are not thoroughly monitored due to lack of scanners in the post office. The post office conducts a random check of parcels.

According to the NCB, post offices and private couriers were under security surveillance.