Police laid traps and seized consignments, SP said- identifying those arrested as Ashok Gupta and Jayprakash Yadav from Nepal, Ashok Sah from Adapur, Ravi Kumar Dubey from Nakardei, Auranjeb Khan from Nautan in West Champaran
India is indeed facing a significant challenge from narco-terrorism, with reports of massive quantities of drugs being smuggled into its territories through Bihar-Nepal border and also from the various points of the 1800 km long Indo-Nepal border.
The recent bust of an international gang of marijuana smugglers in Bihar's East Champaran district is a case in point. The police seized 378 kg of marijuana, a truck, and a Scorpio, and arrested five syndicate members, including two Nepali citizens on Monday late night.
This incident highlights the extensive cannabis smuggling network spanning from Nepal to various Indian cities. The arrested individuals confessed to carrying cannabis from Nepal to different states in India. Pahadpur police have registered an offense and are investigating the backward and forward linkages of this illicit trade, SDPO Areraj, who led the raiding team said.
Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Areraj Ranjan Kumar, who draws media attention being member of a squad, which arrested co-founder of Indian Mujahiddin Yashin ‘Bhatkal’ in August 2013 from Nepal. Gallentary award led him to be promoted as SI to deputy superintendent of Police.
East Champaran district being clinched up with porous border of Nepal has been facing a major challenge of drugs and fake Indian currency (FICN) smuggling allegedly being backed by anti-India elements, intelligence inputs suggested.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. There have been reports of similar smuggling activities along the India-Nepal border. In August, Nepal police arrested Fulsharif Miya, a notorious face in the narcotics trade, with nearly 200 kilograms of hashish and marijuana powder intended for smuggling into India.
East Champaran’s superintendent of police (SP) Swarn Prabhat said that as the district shares its border with Nepal, the drug paddlers became active and all the police stations have been asked to keep close eyes on such activities.
“Many members of drug smugglers’ syndicates have been arrested with the seizure of huge quantities of drugs such as Hashish, Brown Sugar and Charas along with cannabis in the last few months from this border", SP said.
On Monday’s seizure, Areraj police acted on inputs that huge quantities of marijuana being smuggled from Nepal to the various states of India will cross from Pahadpur and Dumariyaghat falls under district’s territory.
Police laid traps and seized consignments, SP said- identifying those arrested as Ashok Gupta and Jayprakash Yadav from Nepal, Ashok Sah from Adapur, Ravi Kumar Dubey from Nakardei, Auranjeb Khan from Nautan in West Champaran
Notably, the United Nations has also warned about the rising threat of narco-terrorism in South Asia, with India being a significant market for opiates. The proceeds from drug trafficking are increasingly being used to fund terrorism and support armed groups.
To combat this menace, the Indian government has established the National Narcotics Coordination mechanism (NCORD) to improve coordination among law enforcement agencies. The police of all bordering districts have also been instructed to keep a close vigil on smugglers active along the border.
- Extensive Smuggling Network: Cannabis smuggling network spans from Nepal to various Indian cities.
- Funding Terrorism: Proceeds from drug trafficking are being used to fund terrorism and support armed groups.
- Border Security: India-Nepal border remains vulnerable to smuggling activities.
Efforts to Combat Narco-Terrorism:
- National Narcotics Coordination mechanism (NCORD): Established to improve coordination among law enforcement agencies.
- Increased Vigilance: Police instructed to keep a close watch on smugglers active along the border.
- International Cooperation: Collaboration with neighboring countries, like Nepal, to disrupt smuggling networks.
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