KATHMANDU, Jan 2: Metropolitan Police Circle, Lainchaur on Saturday arrested a Jordanian citizen for illegal possession of 'ecstasy' drug. The arrested was looking for potential customers planning to celebrate the New Year 's Eve at night clubs and dance bars.
The arrested has been identified as twenty-nine-year-old Nour Aldeen Mohammad Hammash. He is found to be visiting Nepal frequently in search for substance abusers based in Kathmandu and Pokhara. According to DSP Somendra Singh Rathod , in-charge of Metropolitan Police Circle, Lainchaur, the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, has remanded Hammash to seven days in custody for further investigation.
Hammash was arrested while police was searching for another wanted foreigner in a similar case. The police found the activities of Hammash suspicious as he had been visiting different night clubs and dance bars.
“We followed him to his hotel room where he was staying since a few days” said DSP Rathod, adding, “Initially, we couldn't find anything from the room of Hotel New Horizon based in Thamel. But later, we seized 230 tablets of MDMA and few grams of gaanja from his undergarments.”
Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), a synthetic drug that alters mood and perception, has become a popular party drug. Intake of a single dose of such drug triggers a general sense of well being within an hour and the person experiences emotional warmth and empathy toward others.
Keeping in view of the popularity of such ecstasy drugs among youths and tourists, the police had been keeping eye on such drug dealers active during major events like the New Year.
The drugs are considerably expensive in the illegal market but still the number of consumers in Nepal has been increasing, according to the police.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that Hammash arrived in Nepal on December 22 via India and had been staying in the Thamel-based hotel. He has been visiting Nepal since the last eight years.
“We have been inquiring the arrested but he has not been cooperating with the police,” DSP Rathod said.
Despite its illegal status, small doses of the drug are also used for therapeutic purpose in many countries. The drug is produced by boiling the roots and the trunks of the rare Mreah Prew Phnom trees.
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