Drug packages were traced to planes arriving in Nepal, allegedly carried by SA passengers aboard flights, and were then tracked to hotel rooms in Kathmandu and finally discovered hidden in suitcases.
International drug trade links are under investigation after seven tourists from South Africa were arrested in Nepal and a total of 51kg of heroin was allegedly found in their luggage – the biggest such drug bust for the South Asian state.
Some suspects are believed to have flown to India from Johannesburg via Doha, a route that is part of a network, which is believed to be used by criminal groups with ties to the Taliban.In the June bust in Nepal, the people arrested appeared to be drug mules – individuals low down on the drug trade hierarchy who are used to “courier” contraband.
Suspicious tourists were then flagged and arrested at various hotels around Thamel, an area of Kathmandu.The Kathmandu police provided their identities, but it is not clear whether they have been formally charged sohas withheld their names. This week, Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Clayson Monyela confirmed it was aware of the arrests of the women.
A Nepalese official could be heard saying the heroin clampdown was the largest in the history of the Narcotics Control Bureau.The women were also shown in the video – with their hands cuffed and some of them with their heads bowed. Based on the footage, it appeared two of the women had travelled together, allegedly with 16kg of heroin between them.
The suspects reportedly had valid visitors’ visas that would only have allowed them to stay in Nepal for a few days.“The drugs were not removed by the women after they reached their hotels. They were rather touring the city.
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