A data obtained by Republica from the unit shows that the number of narcotic-related arrest and seizure cases saw a whopping increase of 350 percent compared to 2007.[break]
The anti-narcotic unit arrested 2,163 persons, including 2,028 Nepalese and 135 foreigners, with 37,186 kg of cannabis, 2,924 kg of hashish, 11 kg of heroin and 2 kg of opium in 2011. But the police arrested 617 persons in narcotic cases and seized 8,093 kg of cannabis, 2,130 kg of hashish and eleven kilogram of heroin from them in 2007.
A study of the data of the following years shows increasing number of arrests in narcotic cases and increasing amount of seizure of illegal drugs.
The police record shows 634 persons were arrested with 9,613 kg of cannabis, 1,989 kg of hashish, 10 kg of heroin and 105 kg of opium in 2008.
Similarly, 938 persons were arrested in 2009 along with 17,947 kg of cannabis, 1,689 kg of hashish, 36 kg of heroin and 255 kg of opium. The unit arrested 1,443 persons and seized 14,441 kg of cannabis, 1,270 kg of hashish, 22 kg of heroin and 2 kg of opium in 2010.
“The number of drug trafficking cases is increasing alarmingly with each passing year,” said SSP Nawaraj Silwal, Deputy Chief at NDCLEU.
He informed the open border between Nepal and India is giving a free access to drugs while the busy life style of parents is the major reason for drug consumption among youngsters. “Since both husband and wife are working these days, they aren´t taking enough care to keep their children away from drugs,” he said.
Police said they have seen a new trend with more pharmaceutical drugs being abused in recent years. “The consumption has noticeably switched to pharmaceutical drugs as they are easily available in the market while prices of the hard-core drugs like brown and black sugar are soaring constantly, Silwal added.
Burpenorphine, Diazepam, Medazepam and Oxazolam are widely used, according to SSP Silwal.
He also informed that 60 percent of the criminal activities are committed because of drug addiction while drug consumption is a reason for 99 percent of the domestic violence.
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