Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jan 2008 Source: Rising Nepal, The (Nepal) Copyright: 2008 Gorkhapatra Sansthan Contact: http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3855 ILLEGAL TRADE OF DRUGS INCREASES ACROSS BORDER KAPILBASTU, Dec. 31: Illegal trade of illicit drugs has increased along Nepal India border in Kapilbastu district due to weak monitoring system. According to the locals of ward no.1 and 2 of Taulihawa Municipality, illegal drugs can be found in small shops and even in the motorcycle workshops in the locality. Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kapilbastu said that there are about 600 drug users in Kapilbastu and more than 24 abusers have also been supplying the drugs to the local users in Taulihawa area. One of the addicts who wanted to remain unidentified said that youths from 12 to 30 were using the contraband items. He said that people from Rupandehi and Butwal also came in the area to buy the illegal drugs and contraband items like brown sugar, Sispaks Poksiban, Nietroshin, Corex. According to Kripa, another organization working in the field of controlling drug abuses, around 28 people in Kapilbastu were found using syringes. With the increment of drug abusers, the cases of robbery and theft have also been increased in the district. The locals complained that motorbikes, bicycles, water pipes, water pumps and utensils were disappeared in the past few days. Police claimed that they were doing their best to control the illegal use of drugs in the areas but they also asked for cooperation from the locals. Police inspector Hari Baduwal said, "We can not arrest anyone without evidence but as soon as we find evidence we would take action against them." However, he refuted the charge that police were involved in the illegal trade of the drugs. Drugs smuggled from Luckhnow, Soharatgod, Gorakhapur, Badani, Aligadhawha of India enter Nepal through border transits like Chalakchauda, Suthauli, Krishanagar, Dachidi Vadaganga, Rangapur, Vimli. These drugs are also supplied to major cites like Kathmandu, Palpa, Butwal, Dhag and Pokhara. According to NARCONON, an organization working against drug abuse, there are 1,50,000 drug abusers in Nepal and 70 per cent of them are school children. Among the total drug users, around 25,000 are women. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom