Kathmandu, November 2
The Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal, has seized illegal goods worth more than Rs 1.33 billion from border areas since the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah took office.
The APF has intensified action against smuggling of illegal goods, drug trafficking, arms smuggling and other criminal activities, in line with the government’s policy of tightening surveillance and security along the border. The figures cover the period from March 27 to October 29. The total value of the seized goods is Rs 1,332,691,599.
During this period, the APF seized 17 illegal firearms and arrested eight people in connection with them. It also arrested 421 people involved in drug trafficking. Large quantities of marijuana, charas, opium, brown heroin, tablets and injectable drugs were seized from them.
The force also rescued 167 people who were at risk of human trafficking and smuggling. Of those rescued, 118 were children. Ninety-one people allegedly involved in these cases have been arrested.
To curb border encroachment, the APF removed 237 structures from 35 locations along the dashgaja, the strip of land on either side of the border. It cleared crops from 7.448 bigha of land at 17 locations. It also cleaned 94.588 km of the border area at 204 locations.
The APF said it carried out 2,806 programs during the period to strengthen relations with border communities and raise public awareness. In addition, 349,908 people benefited from its 141 help desks, and 10,654 people benefited from 13 tourist help desks.
