700kg marijuana seized from govt-plated SUVs in Dharan
The incident occurred in Dharan-13, where officers intercepted two vehicles, one with registration number BA 1 JHA 5127 and the other BA 1 JHA 4605, both reportedly carrying the illegal substance.
KATHMANDU: In a incident on Tuesday evening, police in Dharan fired four warning shots to seize 700kg of marijuana from two government-plated Scorpio vehicles.
The incident occurred in Dharan-13, where officers intercepted two vehicles, one with registration number BA 1 JHA 5127 and the other BA 1 JHA 4605, both reportedly carrying the illegal substance.
According to SP Suman Timsina of the Sunsari District Police Office, the vehicles, which were reportedly en route from Dhankuta to Dharan, were found with a total of 700kg of marijuana.
The first vehicle, BA 1 JHA 5127, was carrying 365kg of marijuana wrapped in plastic, while the second vehicle, BA 1 JHA 4605, contained 335kg of marijuana, also packed in plastic.
Timsina confirmed that the police are investigating whether the vehicles are truly government-owned or if the number plates were forged. “The investigation is ongoing,” he said, adding that it remains unclear whether the vehicles were using fake government plates.
The police responded to the situation by firing four rounds from an INSAS rifle to bring the vehicles under control. One of the rounds struck the rear windshield of one of the vehicles.
The driver of the first vehicle fled the scene, while one suspect, 36-year-old Shyam Kumar Bishwakarma from Sundarharaincha, Morang, was arrested at the scene.
Bishwakarma is currently in custody and will face charges related to drug trafficking. The police are also intensifying their search for the driver of the second vehicle, who escaped the scene after the gunfire.
DSP Prakash Jweguka of the Dharan Area Police Office explained that the police were forced to fire after the vehicles tried to escape and endangered officers. “After the shots were fired, one vehicle crashed and the driver fled,” Jweguka said, adding that efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects continue.
The police have increased surveillance at all nearby checkpoints to capture the driver of the first vehicle, who is still at large.
