KATHMANDU: The Narcotics Control Bureau of Nepal Police nabbed two persons for their alleged involvement in an international drug smuggling racket that dealt with methamphetamine, on Tuesday.

The arrestees have been identified as Prabhakar Khanal aka Osho Kabir (24) and Pradeep Kumar Adhikari (25) of Nuwakot, currently residing in Tarakeshwor and Balaju respectively.

The duo are accused of sending a consignment of four kg methamphetamine to Australia.

They were arrested separately from Purano Bus Park and Basundhara Chok yesterday.

Police informed that they were arrested following a statement given by Yunish Shrestha, who was arrested by the Australian Federal Police from 2/17 Free Street, New Market, Queensland of Australia, on March 11.

After his arrest, Shrestha had told the Australian law enforcement Khanal, his childhood friend in Nepal, had asked him to receive a bag, which contained the contraband. After investigation, it was learned that the consignment was flown to Queensland via Thailand.

NCB said the arrests were made after keeping an eye on the duo and collecting information from spies and other sources for a long time.

NCB said preliminary investigation revealed that Khanal was mobilised by Pradeep Kumar Adhikari to assign his friend in Australia to collect the consignment of synthetic drug.

Khanal had been hiding in India for some time, the NCB said.

The duo have been booked as per the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033 (1976).

Further investigation into the case is underway, the NCB said.

Earlier in March, Nepal Police arrested three persons -- Manish Shrestha, Bikram Lamichhane and Hom Bahadur Tamang -- from Kathmandu in connection with the smuggling of synthetic drug to Australia from China after one Bhupendra Tamang was rounded up in possession of 54 kg methamphetamine in Brisbane in January.

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