KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 12
As many as 2,246 persons were arrested for involvement in smuggling and possession of drugs and psychoactive substances over a period of six months.
According to statistics released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, it is an increase of around 10 per cent compared to the previous six months. Out of 2,244 persons, 2,183 were Nepali citizens whereas 58 were Indian nationals and five were from other foreign countries. The MoHA claimed that huge amount of drugs and psychoactive substances were confiscated from them. However, it did not disclose the exact figure.
"During the past six months, security agencies successfully reached the key suppliers of drugs," it said.
Police seized prescription drugs, heroin, cocaine, opium, cannabis and hashish, among others. The government had also launched a 'No Drugs and Alcohol Control' campaign in line with the Home Administration Reforms Action Plan, 2017 in a bid to launch crackdown on drug racketeers.
Police have stepped up crackdown on production, smuggling, peddling, storage, possession and abuse of illicit drugs.
The Narcotics Control Bureau and other police units have been actively engaged in dismantling national and transnational drug rackets.
According to the MoHA, the government has observed that prevention of drug smuggling and abuse would be an effective investment for the well-being of those addicted to drugs, their families and communities.
International drug trafficking rings have used Nepal as a transit point to push through drugs, including cocaine and heroin, to destination countries while the growing abuse of psychoactive substances and injectable drugs has emerged as a big problem in the country.
"The government is doing its best to control the supply of drugs and address lack of awareness among people regarding health, economic and social consequences of drug abuse that continue to plague the nation.
If the demand for drugs decreases, it will automatically discourage racketeers," the MoHA said.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 13, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
