Nepal makes biggest ever cannabis bust

KATHMANDU — Police in Nepal have made their biggest ever cannabis bust, seizing more than 2.5 tonnes from a jungle on the outskirts of the capital Kathmandu, a spokesman said yesterday.

Drug squad of cers discovered 2,640 kilogrammes (5,820 pounds) of the plant packed in 88 plastic sacks and bound for India, police superintendent Sher Bahadur Basnet said.

He said the haul had a street value in Nepal of around $155,000 — but would fetch far more on the international market.

“We were tipped off about this more than a month ago and we were investigating it. On Saturday, the smugglers were preparing to transport the consignment from the jungle,” Basnet said.

“This is the largest capture of the drug since our of ce was set up in 1992. We have seized up to 700 kilos before.”

Basnet said one kilogramme of cannabis would fetch 5,000 rupees ($58) on the streets of Kathmandu. — AFP