In its first operation against amphetamine, tagged 'Operation ICE', NCB on Tuesday arrested Netra Gurung, 26, and Chitra Tamang, 21, of Satyadevi-8, Rakchowk in Dhading, with 302 grams of amphetamine, from Tribhuvan International Airport golden gate in Kathmandu Metropolitican City Ward-9.Acting on the basis of special correspondence from the Australian Federal Police, support from Thai police and NCB's own profile surveillance, the two were arrested with the drugs concealed in dolls, handles of suitcases and cream boxes.
According to NCB Director DIG Jaya Bahadur Chand, the duo had arrived in Kathmandu from Bangkok on April 11, a day before the Nepali new year's eve 2073. Police suspected the two were carrying the illegal drugs for use by new year revelers.
However, preliminary investigations suggest they were carrying the drugs from Thailand to Nepal for smuggling onwards to countries such as Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines.
Police investigations also showed that the two arrested were deployed by two brothers-- Dharma Pakharin based in Thailand and Purna Pakhrin based in Nepal, who had been masterminding the racket for more than eight years.
Back in January, Bhupendra Tamang, a Nepali, and Australian Raymond John Marsden were arrested while receiving a consignment of 54 kg of methamphetamine from Brisbane, Australia.
Australian Federal Police had informed NCB that the consignment was supplied from Guangzhou in China and Nepali citizens were involved in the trafficking. On the basis of this information, NCB had arrested three individuals --Manish Shrestha of Sindhupalchok, Bikram Lamichhane of Dhading and Hom Bahadur Tamang of Nuwakot.
Connecting the dots, police established that the 54 kg of amphetamine was supplied by the Pakharin brother based in Thailand. As per their modus operandi, Purna Pakharin in Nepal recruited youths in Nepal and lured them with handsome remunerations into smuggling the consignment. The arrested are found to have travelled to Thailand, Myanmar and the Phillipines several times.
The consignment would fetche around Rs 9.06 million in the international market and there is high demand for it among sophisticated users.
Amphetamine is a stimulant and appetite suppressant. Intake of the drug stimulates the nerves and brain by increasing the amount of certain chemicals in the body. This increases the heart beat and blood pressure and reduces appetite, among other effects. The drug is also used in medication.
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