Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF), the country’s paramilitary border security and anti-smuggling force, arrested three individuals in Siraha, Madhesh Province, with 110.76 kilograms of cannabis early Saturday morning. The arrests were made during an operation targeting drug trafficking along the Nepal-India border.
Sumanjung Thapa, the Armed Police Superintendent (SP) and chief of Armed Police Force, Nepal No. 7 Battalion Headquarters, Siraha, stated that a special intelligence tip-off led to the arrests. A 15-member APF team, led by an Armed Police Sub-Inspector, intercepted the suspects at approximately 1:35 AM on Friday night (early Saturday morning) in the Daraiya area of Aurahi Rural Municipality-1, Siraha.
Details of the Arrest
The three individuals arrested have been identified as 43-year-old Mishrilal Saday and 31-year-old Maniklal Saday, both from Deuripatti, Aurahi Rural Municipality-2, and 33-year-old Shyamsundar Yadav from Dhangadhimai Municipality-5. They were caught carrying six sacks of cannabis on their heads, attempting to smuggle the illicit substance from Nepal into India. In addition to the cannabis, three mobile phones were also recovered from their possession.
Legal Ramifications
The Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033, Nepal’s primary law regulating controlled substances, strictly prohibits the cultivation, production, preparation, purchase, sale, distribution, export, import, transport, storage, or consumption of cannabis. Under this Act, individuals involved in trafficking more than 100 kilograms of cannabis face severe penalties, including imprisonment ranging from 15 years to life, and fines between Rs 500,000 and Rs 2.5 million.
Before the implementation of the 2033 BS Act, cannabis products were openly sold and distributed in Nepal. However, the law brought a legal ban on narcotic drugs, leading to stringent enforcement against such activities.
Nepal as a Transit Hub
Nepal has increasingly become a transit point for drug traffickers, used for moving hashish to international markets and for channeling heroin, cocaine, and other drugs produced in third countries. The rising number of drug-related cases in Nepal reflects this trend, with over 21 percent of inmates in Nepali prisons serving sentences for drug offenses. The Armed Police Force, Nepal No. 7 Battalion Headquarters, Siraha, actively monitors border areas in Siraha District to curb illegal activities such as theft, smuggling, and drug trafficking. Our earlier coverage has highlighted similar seizures in Siraha, including 11 quintals of cannabis with vehicles and 1,102 kg of cannabis, reflecting the ongoing drug challenge in Madhesh Province.
Ongoing Investigation
SP Thapa confirmed that the process is underway to hand over the three arrested individuals, along with the seized cannabis and mobile phones, to the relevant authorities for necessary legal action. They will likely be transferred to the Narcotics Control Bureau, the central agency for investigating and enforcing drug-related crimes, or a local police office for further investigation. Following the investigation, charges will be filed against them, and they will be presented before a court.
However, the specific agency to which the individuals have been handed over is not yet clear. The market value of the seized cannabis has not been disclosed, and it remains unknown whether the arrested individuals are part of a larger drug trafficking network or if they have any prior criminal records related to drug smuggling.
