KATHMANDU: A 30-year-old Indian was among four persons arrested for allegedly smuggling 2.7 kilogrammes of cocaine worth over NRs 53 million into Nepal.
A special team of Nepal Police arrested the four who are part of an international drug cartel in separate raids in Nepal over three days, officials said.
The value of the seized cocaine in the international market has been estimated to be over NRs 53 million. Police also seized NRs 1.3 million in cash from them. It was one of the biggest seizures of narcotics in Nepal in the recent period.
The arrested persons were 30-year-old Indian national Touhid Khan, a Venezuelan national,one for Guinea and a Nepalese man, police said. Nepal Police sources said a Chinese national is suspected to be involved with the cartel, but he has been absconding.
Police said the Nigerian group spread in Peru, Brazil, Malaysia, Pakistan and India were involved in the smuggling of cocaine to European countries, making Nepal a transit point.
