Wanted drug trafficker among three arrested - Himalayan Times

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NBC) today arrested three drug traffickers, including a woman featured on Nepal Police's 'most wanted' list.

Police officials described the arrest of 'most wanted' Mamata Budha (29) of Nuwagaun-5 of Rolpa as a big achievement in controlling drug supply to the capital.

DIG Kedar Saud, NCB chief, said they arrested Budha, Bikash Lho (36) of Sarikhet Palase-8 of Makwanpur and Krishna Prasad Barnawal (34) of East Champaran, India, from separate places of Kathmandu based on intelligence inputs.

"Of the three, Budha was on the most wanted list of the Nepal Police for her involvement in drug trafficking and peddling around the Capital for the past one year. She used to smuggle brown sugar (heroin) into Kathmandu from the Nepalgunj border with India and supply the hardcore substance to drug users," DIG Saud informed.

The drug trafficker and peddler was found to have been using needy teenager girls to lure men into drugs to expand her 'user network'.

DSP Rabindra Regmi said Budha had nexus with drug suppliers in India. The NCB has confiscated 160 gramme heroin from her possession. In another incident, police nabbed Barnawal with 100 gramme heroin from Kalanki while he was on his way to Kathmandu from India to sell heroin. "Barnawal has been found to be working as an agent of Aslam Khan, an India-based drug racketeer, who had escaped from the custody of the Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka, around five years ago," DSP Regmi said.

A police constable, whose name has not been disclosed, had helped Khan to escape custody to make quick money. The ex-officer is working with Khan in India to supply heroin to Nepal, according to police officials. The officials said they are trying to arrest Khan and the fugitive officer.

A separate operation led to Lho's arrest with 255 kg raw hashish in Thankot. Sleuths from the NCB caught Lho while he was trying to push the drug into Capital. The arrestees have been charged under the Narcotic Drug (Control and Punishment) Act. As per the Act, an individual caught with over nine gramme of heroine faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

Who are they?

Mamata Budha (29) was on the most wanted list for involvement in drug trafficking and peddling around the City. She used to smuggle brown sugar into Kathmandu from the Nepalgunj border and supply it to drug users. She had been using girls to lure men into drugs

Krishna Prasad Barnawal (34) of East Champaran, arrested with 100 gm heroin, is an 'agent' of Aslam Khan, who escaped from police custody five years ago.

Bikash Lho (36) of Makwanpur was held in Thankot with 255 kg hashish, while trying to push the drug into City.

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