KATHMANDU: A huge cache of narcotic drugs recently recovered by the police has painted a grim picture of the state of lawlessness in the country.

If the data of Nepal Police (NP) is something to go by, Nepal is on the verge of becoming a safe haven for drugs traffickers.

“The police seized 7.3 kg of heroin between the period of December 12, 2009 and January 22 alone,” the data reveals. The quantity is a record haul of heroine in such a short duration. The price of the heroin in the international market is more than Rs 540 million.

In a big heist on drug traffickers, police on January 1 arrested four persons, including two Pakistanis, in Kathmandu. Those held are Yunus Ansari, his bodyguard Kashi Ram Adhikari and Pakistani citizens Mohammad Iqbal and Sajjad Mohammad Khurram. Police recovered fake IC notes with a face value of Rs 2,544,500 and 3.7 kg of heroin. All of them are facing trial under the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, Narcotics Drugs (Control) Act and Anti-Fake Currency Act.

Drug trafficking and peddling are done by both foreigners and their Nepali associates. The government, however, is yet to go to the bottom of the problem and strengthen the police force in fighting against drug trafficking.

AIG Prakash Kunwar, in-charge of the Crime Investigation Department, said the police was keeping a watchful eye on crime elsewhere in the country.

“Pakistani, Nigerian, French and Malaysian rackets are in the frontline of the crime; they take advantage of the frequent security lapses in the porous borders,” he said. Kunwar said narcotic drugs are often routed to Nepal all the way through India and China via land before they are trafficked to other countries. Police seized 94 kg of hashish and 1,460 kg of cannabis during the period. “A total of 189 alleged drug peddlers, including 11 women — both foreigners and Nepalis — were arrested and 134 cases were lodged against the accused as per the laws,” the data further reveals.

Police also seized a huge amount of proscribed narcotic tablets and syrups like norphin, diazepam, phenergan, spasmo pro, syringe pump, nitrosun, lupigesic, avil, corex, alcohol, stagan, nitrogepam, phenervan, lupine gases, elservit and alcohol swab. “Nepal police has mobilised special units across the country to combat the crime,” Kunwar said.

The security forces have also intensified their drive to destroy cannabis fields. “Cannabis fields spread over 72 bighas of land have been destroyed in Sindhuli, Mahottari, Siraha and Parsa districts as part of a campaign against illegal cannabis farming,” police said.