5 Arrested with Counterfeit Currency and Over 30 Kg of Opium
5 Arrested with Counterfeit Currency and Over 30 Kg of Opium, In a major crackdown on organized crime, Nepal Police have arrested five individuals in Jajarkot district for possession of fake currency worth Rs 1.3 million and a large quantity of suspected opium. Authorities seized 1,300 counterfeit banknotes in denominations mimicking real Nepali currency, along with 26 packets of a substance believed to be opium, weighing a total of 30.672 kilograms.
According to SP Sudhir Raj Shahi of Nepal Police, the joint operation was carried out after receiving intelligence about a possible connection between counterfeit currency circulation and drug trafficking networks operating in the midwestern region of Nepal.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Dilmaya Singh Thakuri (22) Resident of Kushe Rural Municipality-5, Jajarkot
- Ram Bahadur Singh (33) Resident of Khurpa, Ward-5, Jajarkot
- Krishna Bahadur Wali (35) Originally from Samkot Gamaudi, Kushe Rural Municipality-7, Jajarkot, and currently residing in Thakuri Tole, Bheriganga Municipality-12, Surkhet
- Prem Bahadur Bik (38) Resident of Ai, Kalikot District
- Man Bahadur (34) Resident of Tharahari Nath Rural Municipality-4, Kalikot, currently operating Janagarjan Network Pvt. Ltd. a media company based in Kohalpur Municipality-11, Banke District
The arrests indicate a possible cross district network involving narcotics and financial crime, and police have confirmed that the suspects were being monitored for suspicious activities prior to the raid.
Initial investigations suggest that the counterfeit currency may have been produced or acquired with the intention of distributing it in local markets, especially in remote areas where verification of high value banknotes is less common. The circulation of fake currency can significantly disrupt the local economy, especially in rural trading systems that rely heavily on cash transactions.
The large volume of suspected opium points to a serious drug trafficking operation. Opium, derived from the poppy plant, is considered a highly controlled narcotic under Nepal Narcotic Drugs Control Act, 2033 (1976). Its use and trade are illegal, with severe penalties, including long term imprisonment and heavy fines.
Law enforcement officials believe that the seized drugs may have been prepared for transport toward major trade routes in the midwestern corridor, possibly destined for cross border smuggling. Investigators are also examining whether there is any international link, particularly with India, as Nepal’s porous western border often facilitates the illicit flow of narcotics and counterfeit currency.
Police have confiscated the fake notes and drug packages and are currently analyzing them to determine their origin and composition. Digital devices and communication records have also been collected from the suspects to trace their network, identify additional collaborators, and determine the structure of the operation.
Authorities have intensified surveillance in suspected regions and are urging the public to report any suspicious currency handling or unfamiliar individuals in rural communities. SP Shahi noted that “the suspects are currently under detailed interrogation,” and the Nepal Police are working with the Narcotics Control Bureau and Central Investigation Bureau to expand the investigation and verify whether the media company mentioned was being used as a cover for illegal operations.
This case reflects the increasing convergence of financial crimes and narcotics trafficking in Nepal and highlights the need for stricter checks, especially in remote and border areas. The five arrested individuals will be prosecuted under the applicable laws related to narcotics, counterfeit currency, and organized crime. Further developments are expected as the investigation progresses.
