On December 19, Thimphu police arrested a 29-year-old man, a freelance guide from Paro in possession of controlled substances.

Police seized 1,768 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon Plus (SP+) and 39 tablets of Nitrosun 10 (N10) from his apartment in Pamtsho in Thimphu.

The same night, police arrested another man, 25, from Hongkong market in Thimphu in possession of eight SP+ capsules.

Both men tested positive for controlled substance.

A police official said that while the 29-year-old man was detained for further investigation, the 25-year-old man was referred to the Bhutan Narcotic Control Authority for rehabilitation since the number of controlled substances he possessed was less than the quantity listed under schedule VII of the Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Substance Abuse Act of Bhutan 2015. Schedule VII of the Act states the minimum quantity for illicit trafficking.

Since November, Thimphu police has arrested 91people between 14 and 52 years for abusing, and being involved in possession of controlled substances and tobacco products to date.

Of these, 81 were abusers, which include four female. “Majority of the abusers were youth,” the official said.

Four men were arrested for illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances while six including a female were arrested for possessing tobacco products.

Staff  reporter