KATHMANDU: In one of the biggest crackdowns on narcotics drug trafficking racketeers, a large quantity of drugs was found during a police swoop on Khan Son Guest House in Thamel on Friday night.

Nepal Police netted two Pakistani nationals with 5.5-kg of heroin during the raid.

The arrests were made from the Guest House, acting on a tip-off. Those arrested are Hussain Adrar (41) and Irshad Muhammad (33).

SP Ganesh KC, In-charge, Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka informed that a special squad dispatched from Metropolitan Police Sector at Lainchaur had raided Room No. 104 in the Guest House and arrested them at around 11:30 pm.

"We conducted a surprised raid and found that the heroin was hidden in two suitcases. The amount of heroin is sold for more than Rs 300 million in international black market," he explained.

During an interrogation, Hussain and Irshad had told the police that a notorious Pakistani drug kingpin known as “Aslam” had used them to ferry the illegal drug to Nepal, according to SP KC.

"When grilled, Hussain and Irshad told the investigating officials that they sneaked into Nepal via Pakistan boarding Pakistan Airlines plane. They had arrived in Nepal donning pantaloon and jacket fitted with heroin in between two layers of cloth. They have also pleaded guilty of smuggling the narcotics drug to Malaysia and Bangkok from Pakistan many times," he said.

They landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport on February 22 and headed straight to the Guest house. SP KC said the police are searching for the final receiver of the contraband in Nepal.

They are also on the look out for those who are smuggling the contraband to abroad for sale in black market using Nepal as a transit point.

SP KC blames on security lapses at TIA for the illegal entry of contraband materials time and again. "Passengers travelling to foreign countries via TIA undergo tight security checking and screening, but it isn't that tougher for foreigners to land here," he argued.

A security official at TIA, however, claimed that they were following same procedures on the passengers travelling to and from TIA.

"We're committed to make elaborate security arrangement to ensure that Nepal isn't a safe haven for drug peddlers," he said, expressing anonymity.

Hussain and Irshad have been put on trial as per Narcotics Drugs (Control) Act and Anti-Fake Currency Act.

Earlier, the police on January 1 had arrested two Pakistanis-- Mohammad Iqbal and Sajjad Mohammad Khurram-- with 3.7-kg of heroin from the Red Planet Guest House in Thamel-tourist hub in Nepal.

The police said the Pakistanis top the list of drug peddlers in Nepal. An anti-narcotics aviation squad on February 14 had impounded 1.632-kg of heroin at TIA hidden in abdominal cavities in plastic-coated capsule from two Nepalis. US $1,100, Pakistani currency Rs 3,910 have also been recovered from them.