By Our Correspondent
Dhangadhi, Jan. 22: Kailai, the district sharing 101-kilometre-long open border with India, is becoming a haven for drug smugglers.
The porous border has eased the smuggling and led to an increase in the number of the drug dealers and consumers. Even teenagers are found using drugs across the district.
The Kailali District Police Office informed that the number of drug abuse-related cases has also gone up.

In the past six months of 2021/22, a total of 107 individuals were arrested in the district on charge of drug consumption and smuggling. The police have registered 78 cases on drugs during the period.
The data provided by the district police office shows that 223.732-gram brown sugar, 23.564 kg hashish, 487 Nitravet tablets and 584 Spasmo tablets among others were seized in the six months.
In 2020/21, 132 individuals were arrested and 91 cases were registered on drugs. In 2019/20, those numbers were 161 and 98 respectively.

“Locals smuggle drugs in the names of grazing cows and swimming in the river. Pandemic-led restrictions have done little to stop the growing drug smuggling cases,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bed Prakash Joshi.
DSP Joshi, who is also the spokesperson for Kailali District Police, informed that people even smuggled drugs by hiding them in genitals from across the border. “The open border has eased smuggling,” said DSP Joshi.

Bangawa, Sariyapar, Chandan Chauki, Tikuniya and Belraya among other border areas of India have been said to be the major spots to smuggle drugs into Nepal.
Officials and locals informed that Khakraulaghat of Tikapur, Mariyaghat of Bhajani and Phulbari, Hasuliya, Bangara and Jugeda of Dhangadhi have been the major entry points for drugs in Nepal.
“We are strengthening security but the open border is posing a big challenge to our efforts. Youth and teenagers are becoming addicted to drugs. Multi-sectoral approach is required to tackle the growing problem,” said DSP Joshi.