BIRGUNJ, August 14

A Nepali Army team deployed by Charbhaiya Post arrested three persons with 455 kg marijuana from Sonbarsha VDC of Parsa last night.

The team deployed for the security of the wildlife in Parsa Wildlife Reserve arrested Chandra Bahadur Lopchan, 45, of Kankada VDC, Gun Bahadur Titung of Manahari VDC and Purna Bahadur Blon, 30, of the district with 21 packets of hidden contraband near the Shitalpur River inside the wildlife reserve area.

Conservation warden Yuba Raj Regmi said they received a message that there were 24 smugglers in the area, but only three of them were held while others fled the scene after they saw the security personnel.

“All the arrested are porters by profession. The smugglers had used them as agents to help them transport the drug across the border. The trio have been detained at District Police Office, Parsa.