ILLEGAL TRADE OF DRUGS INCREASES ACROSS BORDER

KAPILBASTU, Dec. 31: Illegal trade of illicit drugs has increased
along Nepal India border in Kapilbastu district due to weak monitoring system.

According to the locals of ward no.1 and 2 of Taulihawa Municipality,
illegal drugs can be found in small shops and even in the motorcycle
workshops in the locality.

Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kapilbastu said
that there are about 600 drug users in Kapilbastu and more than 24
abusers have also been supplying the drugs to the local users in
Taulihawa area.

One of the addicts who wanted to remain unidentified said that youths
from 12 to 30 were using the contraband items.

He said that people from Rupandehi and Butwal also came in the area
to buy the illegal drugs and contraband items like brown sugar,
Sispaks Poksiban, Nietroshin, Corex.

According to Kripa, another organization working in the field of
controlling drug abuses, around 28 people in Kapilbastu were found
using syringes.

With the increment of drug abusers, the cases of robbery and theft
have also been increased in the district.

The locals complained that motorbikes, bicycles, water pipes, water
pumps and utensils were disappeared in the past few days.

Police claimed that they were doing their best to control the illegal
use of drugs in the areas but they also asked for cooperation from
the locals. Police inspector Hari Baduwal said, "We can not arrest
anyone without evidence but as soon as we find evidence we would take
action against them."

However, he refuted the charge that police were involved in the
illegal trade of the drugs.

Drugs smuggled from Luckhnow, Soharatgod, Gorakhapur, Badani,
Aligadhawha of India enter Nepal through border transits like
Chalakchauda, Suthauli, Krishanagar, Dachidi Vadaganga, Rangapur,
Vimli. These drugs are also supplied to major cites like Kathmandu,
Palpa, Butwal, Dhag and Pokhara.

According to NARCONON, an organization working against drug abuse,
there are 1,50,000 drug abusers in Nepal and 70 per cent of them are
school children.

Among the total drug users, around 25,000 are women.