Drug smugglers are active in the district, luring locals into cultivate marijuana.

Taking advantage of the prolonged Tarai banda and ongoing fuel crisis, some locals are engaged in commercial farming of the contraband. Police, however, failed to identify such farmers as villagers refuse to disclose information on the matter.

Superintendent of Police Rajubabu Shrestha said some locals are engaged in marijuana plantation due to the absence of security personnel in remote areas. He said police destroyed a marijuana plants for over a week.

According to District Police Office, around marijuana plants cultivated in seven

katthas of land at Paterwasugauli-8 and Nirmalbasti-7, 8 and 9 were destroyed on Friday and Saturday.

Similarly, police also destroyed marijuana plants at Sonbarsha and Paterwasugauli. However, no farmer was arrested for growing the plants.

Police said they launched a campaign to destroy marijuana planted for commercial purpose in forest areas. In the past, police had identified some locals and Indian smugglers involved in marijuana and opium farming in these areas. SP Shrestha said they will also organise awareness campaigns to stop the marijuana farming in the district.

Likewise, police in Chitwan destroyed marijuana plants in about 10 bigahas of land at Lothar and Korak villages in the district. Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan Adhikari said a team of 51 security personnel were deployed in the district to destroy marijuana plants

at Chotrang, Hungpung, Surkhandi, Hatidhap, Jimling, Gaudada, Chaughara and Thakuri Bhanjyang areas. Locals said smugglers have planted marijuana in these areas for commercial use.