LAHAN, March 21: On March 14, police arrested two individuals with 111 kg of marijuana from Wadahra, Tirahut Rural Municipality-2 in Saptari. The contraband was seized during a search of an auto-rickshaw (Pra 2-01-001 Ha 0022) traveling from Kanchanpur, Saptari, to Diman.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Dambar Bahadur Puri, Information Officer at the District Police Office (DPO), Saptari, 42-year-old auto driver Jamun Mahato and 28-year-old Kabita Kumari Majhi, both from Kanchanrup Municipality-7, were taken into custody with marijuana packed in black plastic bags inside a white sack, and legal action has been initiated.
On the same day, Parsa police seized 52,300 narcotic tablets from a Tata Sumo (Na 1 Ja 2765) heading toward Kathmandu from Birgunj Metropolitan City. In connection, 42-year-old Ramashish Raut of Parwanipur Rural Municipality-1, Bara, and 30-year-old Subhash Sarraf of Bahudarmai Municipality-2, Parsa, were arrested, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Raju Karki, Information Officer at the District Police Office, Parsa.
Earlier, on 15 March, police seized narcotic tablets and syrup from a passenger’s bag on a motorcycle (Pra 1-02-053 Pa 4275) traveling from Siraha to Mirchaiya. DSP Ramesh Bahadur Pal of the DPO, Siraha, said 26-year-old Jitendra Kumar Mahato of Mirchaiya Municipality-8 was taken into custody with 20 bottles of syrup and 10 tablets, and legal procedures have been initiated.
These cases are representative of drug trafficking in Madhesh Province. Despite police arrests, the trade is expanding rather than declining, with traffickers operating organized networks. Narcotics are brought from Indian border towns and distributed across Nepal, exploiting the open border and weak security arrangements. Madhesh has increasingly become a hub for drug trafficking.
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Police report that drugs move from districts like Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, and Parsa to hilly districts and major cities, including Kathmandu. Anti-drug activists note that trafficking routes now run through Lahan, Siraha, Golbazar, Kushaha, Rajbiraj, Bardibas, and Janakpurdham.
Analysis of the past three fiscal year (FY) years (2023/24 to mid-March 2025/26) shows arrests of 2,097 Nepali men, 87 Nepali women, 820 Indian men, and nine Indian women with narcotics. On average, two people are arrested daily in Madhesh for drug-related offenses. Arrests over recent years include 999 in FY 2020/21, 1,285 in FY 2021/22, 1,304 in FY 2022/23, 1,104 in FY 2023/24, 836 in FY 2024/25, and 548 as of mid-March in FY 2025/26. Most arrested are under 30.
Seized drugs include marijuana, hashish, brown sugar, opium, heroin, and other narcotics. As of mid-March this fiscal year, police have confiscated 10,098 kg of marijuana, 272 kg 543 g of hashish, 2,390 g of heroin, 379 g 902 mg of brown sugar, 222,869 tablets, 1,092 bottles of narcotic syrup, and 15,671 injections from eight districts. Traffickers hide drugs in vehicles, motorcycles, food sacks, and even body parts.
Addiction at young age
Psychotropic drugs, illegal without prescriptions, are sold at high profits. Border medical shops sell them to traffickers, who smuggle them into Nepal. Rafiq, a resident near the border, said, “Nepali users can easily buy drugs from Indian markets. Traffickers cross the border daily, evading police, sometimes even manipulating security personnel. It’s almost an open secret.”
Ramphal Yadav of Bariyarpatti noted that bad company, family disputes, depression, and lack of parental supervision push youths into addiction. “Even when parents know, many stay silent due to social stigma. Only when behavior becomes uncontrollable do they approach police or rehab centers.”
Youths in villages increasingly isolate themselves. “Sitting alone, being withdrawn, and speaking irritably—these are signs of addiction,” Yadav said. Legal action alone is insufficient; psychological counseling alongside enforcement is essential. Parental shortcomings, not just peer influence, contribute to addiction.
Deputy Inspector General Govinda Thapaliya, Chief of the Madhesh Province Police Office, Janakpurdham, acknowledged the rise in drug trafficking and use. “Only collective societal efforts can bring addicts back on track,” he said. “Parents and communities must remain vigilant.” The police are implementing corrective measures for addicts while taking strict action against traffickers.
Strong network
Traffickers increasingly cross borders daily, evading police, and distributing drugs across eight districts. Investigations reveal organized networks moving drugs from Indian pharmacies to all parts of Nepal. Purushottam Yadav, newly elected lawmaker from Rastriya Swatantra Party, highlighted the growing network and its social impact, calling for both corrective and control measures.
The number of users and traffickers in Madhesh’s rural and urban areas has risen. Social activists say arresting a few individuals cannot dismantle the network. Border towns serve as transit points connecting Indian markets to Nepal. Despite periodic arrests, organized criminal networks continue to expand the trade.
Easy routes, easy trade
Road and transport access in rural areas has expanded, making villages more connected and enabling drug networks to grow. Use is increasing not only in border villages and Kathmandu but also in emerging towns in hilly districts. Investigations show networks stretching from the border to hilly districts and Kathmandu.
Three “S” factors—sulabhata (availability), sangat (peer influence), and siko (imitation)—are driving Madhesh’s youth toward drug addiction.
