Cannabis traders, users and traffickers arrested in Far-West

Birendra Bhatt, Dhangadhi: A team deployed from the Far Western Provincial Police Office and District Police Office, Kailali, based on special information, arrested two people with 16 kg of cannabis from Khanidanda of Chure village on December 29, 2078 BS. Beer Bohara, 28, and Gamilal Bohara, 40, were arrested while they were hiding under the seat of a jeep coming from Bajhang to Dhangadhi.

Similarly, on 22 January 2078, Kailali police arrested Man Bahadur Dhami, 53, and Birkh Dhami, 30, of Chamaripur along with 4.5 kg of cannabis from Udasipur in Gauriganga Municipality. Aite Jagri, 70, of Lisbeli in Chure village was also arrested by a joint team from the State Police and District Police Office. These are just examples. In the last few years, arrests of traders including cannabis have been continuing with great results.

According to Ved Prakash Joshi, spokesperson of the District Police Office, Kailali, the source of cannabis is Bajhang and it is being exported to India every year. "While cannabis is exported from Bajhang, drugs are being smuggled in from India," he said. The Drug Trafficking and Control Act 2033 provides for imprisonment of one month to five years and a fine of up to Rs 500,000. Cannabis users also face up to a month in prison and a 2,000 fine.

But a public pressure campaign is underway in Nepal for the legitimacy of cannabis farming. The Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force from the border area are also arresting the traffickers. According to Bharat Chaudhary, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Far-Western Provincial Police Office, the police are being challenged to reduce the number of cannabis traders and users to zero. "Preparations are being made to come up with a special plan as it is not possible to control it by the efforts of the police alone," he said.

He said that despite the daily arrests of cannabis dealers and users by the police, there was still a challenge to control them. According to the police, 5 kg of cannabis was seized from various places in the far western region in the fiscal year 2077/78. According to the police, the number of drug users including cannabis has been increasing and the number of traders and users has been increasing.

But business has not declined. The Ministry of Home Affairs is preparing to introduce procedures for cultivating cannabis for medicinal purposes.