The Bhutanese Leading the way.
6 individuals arrested
On 12 May 2025, three Indians aged 28, 29, and 30 were arrested at the Paro International Airport for smuggling illicit substance.
This marks the fourth case of Indians arrested at the airport for smuggling illicit substance into the country though the intent was to take the substance to their country.
With the arrest of the 3 individuals in the recent attempt, this adds to a total of 6 arrests this year.
The customs officials intercepted the trio upon arrival from Bangkok and seized more than seven kgs of dried cannabis leaves, reportedly of different species, concealed in their suitcases.
RBP shared that the suspects confessed to purchasing it for personal use from a street vendor in Bangkok for 100,000 Thai Baht.
Further, they confessed to planning to stay in Bhutan for a few days and the returning back to India.
Though the suspects have confessed to carrying the illicit drugs for personal use, the amount speaks otherwise, and RBP state that the suspects maybe trying to use it as excuse to get lighter sentence. All three suspects have tested positive for drug.
As per the Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Substance Abuse Act of Bhutan 2015 since the seized cannabis plants are more than 50 gm, at more than 7 kg, it falls under a felony of third degree, which means an imprisonment term between five to nine years.
On 14 April, 2025 a 34-year-old Indian national was arrested at the Paro International Airport for allegedly smuggling seven kgs of cannabis.
On 4 February 2025 a 37-year-old Indian man was apprehended with 17.1 kgs of heroin. This is the largest seizure till date.
On 8 January 2025, a 28-year-old Indian national was apprehended at the Paro International Airport after being caught with 9.73 kgs of heroin.
In all the cases, the suspects were traveling on a flight from Bangkok to Paro and to India.
While in most of the arrests, the individuals have confessed to being middlemen, in the recent case they have confessed to possessing the illicit drugs for personal use. This may be a change in strategy by smugglers.
