A Nepali man’s name has emerged in police investigation as the ringleader of an international drug racket operating from Thailand, who according to police has been using Nepal as a hub to supply contraband drugs to various countries.

Police investigation has revealed that Dharma Pakhrin Tamang of Dhading, who is based in Thailand, runs the racket with the help of his younger brother Purna Pakhrin Tamang who frequents Nepal to operate the illegal business.

The Tamang brothers are said to be involved in supplying Amphetamine, a pharmaceutical drug banned in Nepal.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of Nepal Police had arrested two persons on April 12 with Amphetamine. Netra Gurung, 26, and Chitra Tamang, 21, of Dhading were arrested with 302 grams of the drug worth Rs 9 million in the international market. The drug was being ferried from Bangkok to Kathmandu. The drug concealed inside toys and suitcase handles were seized from Tribhuvan International Airport gate.

According to police investigation, Netra is part of the racket and has delivered the drug using various routes including Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia and Australia among others.

“Nepal is a collection centre for Amphetamine. Once the required amount of the crystal drug is accumulated, it is smuggled into other destinations,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police Jay Bahadur Chand, chief of NCB. The NCB suspects

that there are not many users of this pharmaceutical drug in Nepal.

On April 11, Pawan Hari Rajbhandari, 40, of Tahachal was arrested along with the drug. Investigation later showed that he was using the drug.

Police suspect that Dharma Pakhrin must have been in the illegal business for long. He is the same person who had used Bhupendra Tamang as a mule to ferry 54 kilograms of Amphetamine to Australia.

Bhupendra was arrested by Australian police along with Australian national Raymond John Marsden in January this year, and it was later revealed that the drug was sent to Australia from China. The illegal consignment was worth around Rs1 billion, according to the NCB.

The NCB has already communicated with authorities in Thailand to arrest Dharma Pakhrin.

Dharma’s brother Purna visits villages in Makawanpur and Dhading to “find mules” to carry the contraband.

Purna is at large, said police, adding search is underway to find him.

Amphetamine is a stimulant drug and also works as appetite suppressant. Using Amphetamine without prescription form trained physicians could be dangerous.