KATHMANDU, Sep 8: Hong Kong authorities have recently confiscated a shipment of marijuana and hashish that was traced back to the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Nepal. The discovery was made on August 11 when narcotics were found on a Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) flight arriving in Hong Kong. While the exact quantity of the seized drugs has not been disclosed by Hong Kong police, it has raised serious concerns about airport security.
Chief of the Narcotics Control Bureau in Koteshwar, SSP Govinda Thapaliya, has initiated an investigation into the security lapse that allowed these illegal substances to pass through the airport's security checks and reach Hong Kong. Thapaliya clarified that the investigation is currently focusing on police procedures and not customs-related issues. "We are looking into whether there was a lapse on the part of the police or customs in this matter," he stated.
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This incident has cast a shadow over the reputation of Nepal's law enforcement agencies, especially considering recent cases of smuggled gold and now drugs being transported abroad through air routes. Notably, the narcotics in question were concealed within book shipments, disguising their illicit nature. Sources suggest that cargo companies may have played a role in these smuggling operations by manipulating customs and police personnel.
Curiously, while Nepal Police sought assistance from Hong Kong Police to investigate a gold smuggling case, the narcotics were transported through Nepal's airport undetected. Hong Kong Police have expressed their interest in collaborating with Nepal Police on these matters. The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police sent SSP Dinesh Acharya to Hong Kong to request assistance in the gold smuggling investigation.
The Narcotics Control Bureau has established a committee, led by DSP Anantram Sharma, to investigate the marijuana and hashish seizure destined for Hong Kong via Nepal's airport. The committee is actively pursuing its inquiries, including taking statements from the police personnel on duty at the airport on the day of the incident.
Authorities have revealed that the narcotics were concealed in shipments sent by Virat Global Private Limited. The information regarding the seizure was shared by Hong Kong police officials with their counterparts in Nepal on August 16. Senior Sub-Inspector Niranjan Paneru was on duty during the cargo inspection on August 11, alongside Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police duo Kailash Raut and Bishnu Bahadur Thapa, as well as Constables Nir Kumari Rai and Pradeep Basnet. The Narcotics Bureau also scrutinizes cargo shipments, but it remains unclear how these drugs managed to infiltrate the cargo without detection.
