As the world marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking today, Bhutan continues to fight a growing battle against drugs. Authorities continue to seize record amounts of illegal substances, especially Spasmo-Proxyvon Plus (SP+) capsules. But behind every confiscation lies a bigger question: Why are so many individuals, especially young people, turning to drugs and getting involved in trafficking? In this story, our reporter Tashi Dekar explores the underlying reasons behind drug abuse and the illicit smuggling of drugs.
BBS spoke with the inmates at Chamgang Central Prison in Thimphu, who shared that the fight against drugs goes beyond border gates and streets; it’s rooted in the social, economic, psychological, and legal systems in the country.
One inmate in his mid-30s, serving an eight-year sentence for drug abuse and trafficking, said that his addiction started with curiosity and peer pressure. He used SP+ to cope with low self-esteem, but quickly became dependent.
“The main reason for me was unemployment. I couldn’t support my family financially because I had no income. We need money to survive, and when I didn’t have it, I became depressed. Taking drugs made me feel less hopeless; it gave me confidence and made me feel like I could do anything.”
Another inmate, also in his mid-30s and serving five years, said he was drawn to drug trafficking by the promise of quick money and the excitement it brought. He ran a well-organised network with people under him and smuggled various types of drugs.
“Smuggling drugs involves a lot of logistics. We never knew the identity of the main supplier; only a few individuals were responsible for transporting the drugs to us. We would contact them to arrange the deliveries. There were middlemen on both sides and carrier vehicles on our end, usually heavy-duty cars. The drugs were loaded onto these vehicles. The Indian counterparts handled most of the coordination. They paid the drivers in advance, and we only had to pay for the drugs.”
He added that they bypassed security checkpoints at the border by bribing officials on duty.
“We bribed officials and those in power along the routes to facilitate the smuggling. We only had to inform them about the shipments, and as long as they were paid, they didn’t question what we were carrying.”
Upon release, he hopes to start afresh, possibly in another country, away from drugs and the networks that once consumed him.
An inmate in his 20s, currently serving a sentence for trafficking cannabis, shared that the easy availability of marijuana made it a lucrative business.
“I used to get hash from Punakha, where people collect it from the forest. Most users make the hash themselves. For those who don’t know how, they place orders from those areas. Some users not only make and use the hash but also sell it, using the money they earn to keep the business going.”
BBS also learned that some individuals go to extreme lengths to evade border security, hiding drugs in their innerwear, socks, or even their mouth. Inmates said sellers, mostly Indian nationals, rarely asked for buyer details as long as they were paid.
During the recent deliberations, the National Council’s Social and Cultural Affairs Committee reported a sharp rise in drug-related arrests.
In 2023, 1,904 individuals were arrested, 52 per cent of them youth. This rose to 53 per cent in 2024, with 1,774 youth arrests, mostly male, unemployed, or students.
The committee also highlighted a steady rise in drug arrests between 2023 and 2025. SP+ remained the most commonly seized drug, with over 17,000 capsules confiscated in 2024 and nearly 5,900 already this year.
The committee emphasised that the underlying causes of drug abuse are complex, ranging from unemployment and peer pressure to family challenges.
For many, drugs may begin as a coping mechanism or quick escape, but often end in long-term consequences. As Bhutan fights the growing drug crisis, voices from behind prison walls offer a stark reminder of what’s at stake.
Marking this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the theme “The evidence is clear: invest in prevention,” the message is clear and urgent: focus on prevention and support to tackle the root causes and break the cycle of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Sonam Pem
