Chencho Dema
Punakha – An Indian national is in custody at the Paro Police Station after being caught with a substance suspected to be heroin at Paro International Airport on January 9. Custom officials at the airport discovered and seized over 9 kilograms of the drug, concealed in his luggage.
The suspect, a man believed to be between 25 and 30 years old, was intercepted during routine security checks.
He was traveling alone on a flight from Bangkok to Paro when airport officials discovered the contraband hidden in his checked-in luggage.
Following his detention, the suspect was handed over to Paro police for further investigation.
The seized substance has been sent to the Bhutan Narcotics Control Authority (BNCA) for testing to confirm if it is heroin. The test results are pending.
Authorities are yet to determine whether the man was acting as a drug mule with plans to deliver the contraband to someone in Bhutan.
This marks the first reported heroin seizure at Paro International Airport this year.
Sources told Kuensel that the first case of heroin reported in marks a concerning escalation in the country’s battle against drug-related issues.
Bhutan has faced challenges with controlled substances like marijuana and pharmaceutical drugs in the past. However, the introduction of heroin, a far more dangerous and addictive narcotic, is a significant development.
A similar case was reported last year on December 22, when airport authorities intercepted another Indian and seized 4.6 kilograms of heroin concealed in a plastic packet within his luggage. He was also caught with the drugs during routine security checks.
The December 2023 suspect was also traveling alone on a flight from Bangkok to Paro when the contraband was discovered during routine security checks.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the individual was acting as a mule, transporting the heroin from Bangkok to Bhutan, where it was to be handed over to an accomplice.
Kuensel learned that an unidentified individual in Bangkok instructed the man to deliver the contraband to someone in Bhutan upon his arrival. However, before he could hand over the drugs, he was intercepted by custom officials.
Both cases highlight the need for heightened vigilance and stricter measures to combat drug trafficking through Bhutan’s primary international airport.
Bhutan recorded 1,512 drug-related offences in 2024, slightly down from 1,571 cases reported in 2023. Among these, the illicit trafficking of NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) and cannabis accounted for 243 cases in 2024, compared to 322 cases in 2023.