The Bhutanese Leading the way.
In a major step towards ensuring accountability and internal integrity, the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) has completed drug screening tests for over 4,000 personnel and officers across the country.
The initiative, which began on 20th January 2025, was completed in March resulting in a remarkable outcome as not a single individual tested positive for substance use.
RBP said that the comprehensive drug screening was carried out as part of a broader effort to uphold public trust and reinforce the organization’s role as a model law enforcement agency.
The Chief of Police directed the RBP’s Narcotic Drugs and Other Vices Division (NDOVD) to develop a guideline and operational modality to conduct these screenings last year.
The move was intended not only to detect substance use, but also to offer timely intervention and support.
“The first objective was to find out if any of our personnel are using substances, so we can help them recover. Secondly, as a law enforcement agency, we must hold ourselves accountable before we enforce the law on others,” RBP said.
The tests were administered to active-duty personnel, as part of the RBP’s annual exercise.
A few individuals have yet to be tested due to overseas postings, leave, or assignments away from base. However, the program is ongoing, and all RBP members will be included in the process.
The policy behind the screenings focuses on prevention, rehabilitation, and deterrence, rather than punishment.
RBP said that any individual who tests positive will not face immediate termination. Instead, the first step is assessment and treatment, in alignment with the national Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Substance Abuse (NDPS) Act.
Individuals who test positive will undergo up to three rounds of rehabilitation. Only upon a fourth violation would legal and disciplinary action including potential termination be considered.
Each and every test, if they test positive, will be recorded officially so that by the time it becomes fourth time they will be charged.
Until cleared, individuals who test positive will be relieved from regulatory or high-risk duties to ensure their safety and that of others.
RBP said, “This isn’t about punishment. It’s about early intervention. We want to identify those who may be struggling and provide help, not stigmatize them.”
Beyond recovery and accountability, RBP said that the initiative serves as a deterrent. With the knowledge that random and annual tests are part of the protocol, personnel and officers are more likely to avoid substance use altogether.
The drug testing equipment was procured using RBP’s own funds, reflecting its strong commitment to institutional self-regulation and transparency.
This marks the first internal mass drug screening conducted by RBP, separate from the national-level drug enforcement efforts. RBP said that the results provide a strong foundation that focus on wellness, accountability, and continued public trust in them.
