Marijuana cultivation has begun in various open spaces in Dhankuta. Being legally prohibited from cultivating marijuana in Nepal, setting between farmers, smugglers and the police, serious questions are raising about the security, social structure and rule of law in the Koshi region.
In various wards of Sahidbhoomi Rural Municipality, Sagurigadhi Rural Municipality, Pakhribas Municipality and Mahalaxmi Municipality in Dhankuta district, farmers have started cultivating marijuana instead of planting traditional crops of rice, maize and millet. The same trend has also been seen in Arun, Hatuwagadhi and Aamchok Rural Municipality in Bhojpur district. Locals say that these areas are becoming easy for marijuana cultivation due to remote geographical conditions, weak surveillance and alleged collusion.
Marijuana cultivation is also being widely practiced in Chaudandigadhi and Belka municipalities of Udayapur, municipalities connected to Sunkoshi in Khotang and areas around the Tamor Corridor in Tehrathum. All these areas are considered sensitive in terms of road network and traffic connecting to India. For this reason, with the expansion of marijuana cultivation, the smuggling network is also becoming stronger. Marijuana smuggling has increased the security threat to Sunsari and Morang districts of Koshi Province. Marijuana that enters daily from Dhankuta is taken to India by smugglers via Sunsari and Morang. Sunsari Police Chief SP Keshav Kumar Thebe said that the transportation and smuggling of marijuana in Sunsari has added a challenge to the security of the district. He said that despite every problem, marijuana smugglers are being arrested daily.
According to locals in Dhankuta, a small cannabis plant costs Rs 16, a medium plant costs Rs 18, and a large plant costs Rs 20. The amount is paid to the police through smugglers, and then the cannabis is cut, stored, and smuggled to India. It has been found that people from local political party leaders to public representatives are involved in cannabis smuggling. The Sunsari police have arrested and prosecuted political party leaders and public representatives in Dhankuta with cannabis.
However, what is interesting is that locals complain that sometimes the same cannabis is shown to have been seized by the police in the name of ‘action’. This has raised serious doubts about the role of the police. Locals say that smuggling has increased since the police offices have not coordinated in controlling cannabis.
The negative impact on local society due to marijuana cultivation and smuggling is increasing. Youths are getting involved in marijuana cultivation and smuggling in the lure of easier income than farming. Experts say that this has reduced agricultural production and increased the risk of social crime, drug abuse and violence. According to security experts, marijuana cultivation is not only a drug-related problem, it is also linked to national security and cross-border crime. According to Nepal’s Narcotics (Control) Act, marijuana cultivation, transportation and sale are completely illegal.
Manoj Rai, the chairperson of Sahidbhumi Rural Municipality in Dhankuta, has called on farmers in the rural municipality to abandon illegal marijuana cultivation and turn to alternative farming. He said that as the government did not recognize marijuana, the municipality has launched a campaign to displace marijuana cultivation in collaboration with NGOs as a long-term solution. We have introduced the concept of coffee farming to secure farmers’ income, and Chairperson Rai said that they have now started distributing free coffee seedlings to farmers.
Dhankuta Assistant Chief District Officer Laxmi Prasad Adhikari said that the Dhankuta police have been given clear instructions to destroy the marijuana cultivation produced in the district. He said that the Nepal government has completely banned the cultivation, production, transportation and use of marijuana, and that marijuana cultivation is a completely illegal act. He said that the administration and police mechanism have been actively mobilized to control such illegal activities.
DIG of Koshi Province Police Office Binod Ghimire said that strict instructions have been given to all police offices under his jurisdiction to completely eradicate the cultivation of marijuana being produced in the hilly district. Stating that drug control is a priority of the province police, he said that the cultivation, trade and people involved in marijuana are being arrested.
