Dhangadhi, April 30

Dhangadhi, the temporary headquarters of Province 7, is turning into a transit hub for drugs.

The city has served as a safe haven for drug peddlers to store and smuggle contraband across the country.

The activities of drug peddlers in Dhangadi and in the bordering Indian cities have been increasing. Modern drugs manufactured in India are being smuggled to Kathmandu and eastern parts of Nepal via Dhangadi and Tikapur routes.

According to DSP Bir Bahadur Budha Magar at Dhangadhi District Police Office, four peddlers, who were transporting drugs from Dhangadhi, were arrested from Kathmandu. DSP Budha Magar said drugs were being taken up to Kathmandu by making Dhangadhi the transit point. “Drugs are also being smuggled to hilly districts and markets in Tarai  from Dhangadhi ,” he added. According to him, peddlers were also smuggling hashish from the hilly districts of Nepal to New Delhi and Lucknow of Uttar Pradesh, in India.

To check drug dealings, a campaign has been launched in the city and police personnel have been deployed at various places.

A police team led by head constable Kamdev Bhandari arrested seven people involved in drug peddling.

“Preliminary investigation showed involvement of organised mafia in drug smuggling,” Bhandari said. He added that smuggling of various kinds of drugs from India to Nepal and vice-versa was taking place at an unprecedented scale.

Police have nabbed 38 people involved in drug transaction from Tikapur, Kailai, where peddling of brown heroin and other drugs is high. Police also said female involvement in smuggling equalled that of male involvement.

A police officer stationed at Nepal-India border said drugs smuggled into Nepal were supplied by drug stores on the Indian side. “Women are being used for smuggling in an organised manner,” the officer added.

According to police, youths in the 16 to 35 years age group are more prone to drug addiction and peddlers exploit them.

Till date, 48 drug cases have been registered in Kailali. Of them, 32 were registered at the District Police Office, while the remaining cases were filed at area police offices in the district.