KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 23
Narcotics Control Bureau has arrested two foreigners, both women, with 5.6 kg cocaine worth around Rs 120 million in the international drug market.
The alleged associates of the transnational drug racket were nabbed from a Thamel-based hotel yesterday.
The arrestees include Dariia Antonenko, 31, (passport number UKRPU 557117) of Ukraine and Areeya Phonok, 25, (passport number AC 3538929) of Thailand.
According to NCB, undercover cops tracked the Ukrainian woman to the hotel and took her into custody with 5.6 kg cocaine concealed in a suitcase. Antonenko had arrived in Kathmandu from Rio De Janeiro of Brazil via Dubai on Wednesday.
Police have also seized USD 300, Thai Bhat 480, Rs 5,000 and her passport.
NCB had a tip-off about possible cocaine trafficking to Kathmandu and had been vigilant towards suspicious foreigners.
Likewise, the Thai woman was in Kathmandu to receive the drug and carry it to her home country. "The des-tination of the cocaine was Thailand.
The Thai woman had been allegedly tasked by international racketeers with the responsibility of receiving the suitcase from the Ukrainian woman and taking it home," NCB said.
The consignment of cocaine had been brought to Kathmandu from Brazil.
The Ukranian woman was promised good money in wage.
However, she does not use drugs. Non-drug users are found transporting cocaine to various destinations by making Nepal their transit for a petty amount. Cocaine is often known as 'a rich person's drug' and is not consumed in Nepal due to its high price, officials said.
Although Nepal is a growing market for narcotic drugs, the use of cocaine among drug users is very low in the country.
"Cocaine does not really have a market here in Nepal. Since cocaine is very expensive, Nepalis can seldom afford to consume it," said an official.
He further said the current challenge related to cocaine was to stop turning Nepal into a transit haven for trafficking the drug into foreign countries.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 24, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
