By Homraj Ranabhat, Kawaswoti, Sept. 20: A province-level police record shows that Nawalparasi East is becoming the main transit point for the transaction of illegal drugs. Nawalparasi police have arrested 144 people in a year on the charge of being involved in drug trafficking and consumption.

According to the Nawalparasi East Police, 144 people were arrested in the fiscal year 2020/21 on the charge of being involved in drug trafficking.

It is mentioned in the statistics that out of 67 drug-related cases registered by the police in the fiscal year 2019/20, a total of 80 cases were registered in the last fiscal year 2020/21.

According to the District Police Office, police seized more than 15,000 bags of banned drugs and about 10 kg of cannabis in the last fiscal year.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Prakash Malla, Rs. 49,000 was also recovered from the arrested persons. According to the police, drug smugglers have been caught in police checks conducted in Dumkibas, Chalis Kilo and Kawasoti.

The District Police Office said drug smugglers enter Nawalparasi East through Rupandehi and Nawalparasi West taking advantage of the open border by buying drugs in the bordering Indian market. He said that most of the arrested persons were from outside the district and there were many drug dealers representing from districts other than Nawalaparsi East.

According to Superintendent of Police Malla, drug trafficking is taking place in Nawalparasi East, as it is easy to travel in all parts of the country from here.

Admitting that the drug trade has increased due to the increase in the number of arrests, Superintendent Malla said that the more the police activity, the more drugs traders have fallen in the police net.

"Nawalparasi East police is conducting a campaign in the district to control drugs, but there is a need for coordination among the provinces to control smuggling," Malla said. “Our efforts alone will not be enough to control smuggling, there should be coordination between the provincial governments and police offices. For this, I have also taken the matter to the Gandaki Province Police Headquarters," said Malla.

He said that the Nawalparasi East District Police would spare no effort to rid the district of drug menace. Saroj Acharya, a local, said that the people have felt peace and security in the district after the arrival of SP Malla in the district as police chief.

Citizens of the district have their belief that SP Malla would be able to ensure safety and security in the district without compromising with anyone.