BARA, July 10: Daily reports from Nepal’s Bara and Parsa districts indicate a steady flow of cannabis and hashish smuggling, largely originating from the Chure hills and trafficked illegally into India. While law enforcement frequently seizes large quantities of these narcotics, arrests are often limited to low-level couriers. The ringleaders and major players behind the trade continue to evade capture.
Allegations persist that these traffickers receive protection from certain security personnel and political figures. According to insiders within the trafficking networks themselves, this protection is secured through regular bribes, often paid on a monthly basis.
Experts acknowledge that completely halting cross-border smuggling in these areas is extremely difficult under the current circumstances.
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However, police deny claims of complicity. Superintendent of Police (SP) Santosh Tamang, head of the Bara District Police Office, asserted that law enforcement is working “strategically and effectively” to combat smuggling. He noted that the presence and efforts of police personnel have led to the daily seizure of large quantities of cannabis and hashish.
SP Gautam Mishra of the Parsa District Police echoed this claim, stating that operations to curb drug smuggling through Parsa’s border routes are ongoing. He said special campaigns are being launched to arrest smugglers attempting to transport narcotics into India.
Umaprasad Chaturvedi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police for Madhesh Province, maintained that major traffickers are now being caught more frequently. He cited the recent arrests of Fekan Sah from Sarlahi and Budhan from Saptari—both reputed to be significant players in cross-border cannabis trafficking.
DIG Chaturvedi said investigations revealed that Sah was responsible for around 40% of cannabis smuggled from Sarlahi, while Budhan was linked to 50% of smuggling from Saptari. "These are big traffickers," he said, adding that he has instructed subordinate agencies to investigate thoroughly and target the masterminds, not just the couriers.
“The main challenge is a lack of concrete evidence linking couriers to the masterminds,” Chaturvedi explained. “The ringleaders operate through multiple layers, using middlemen to insulate themselves. This makes it difficult to reach the top of the chain.”
He added that most couriers arrested are unable—or unwilling—to identify the key figures behind the trade, making it even harder to prosecute the true perpetrators.
