About 1500 people have been arrested by the Royal Bhutan Police for drug-related cases in the first six months of this year. The number is close to the total cases in the whole of last year. According to data maintained by the police, on an average, this year saw twice the number of arrests made on a daily basis compared to last year. According to the police, the rise in the number of cases is attributed to vigilant surveillance of narcotic drugs.
Except for the two pandemic affected years of 2020 and 2021, the number of people arrested for drug related crimes has been on a steady rise.
In 2018, about 1200 individuals were arrested. The number increased to over 1300 in 2019, when the pandemic struck. 2020 and 2021 saw a total of over 1700 cases.
The number shot up again last year when over 1500 people were arrested. This year almost 1600 individuals have been arrested so far.
The first 12 days of this month alone saw 86 individuals arrested for drug related crimes.
Last week, the police caught seven people in Punakha with 40 sticks of hashish weighing over 100 grams.
According to the police, most of the people arrested are repeat offenders.
Police data also show that unlike in the past five years, where most of the offenders were youth, this year most offenders are adults aged 25 and above.
Over 90 per cent of the offenders caught over the years are men.
Police attribute the increase in the number of cases to their improved surveillance.
The RBP also added that Narcotic Detection Dogs are also one of the factors that contribute to improved surveillance.
Police also said that there is also an enhanced intelligence network that informs the police, which aids in intercepting people carrying and abusing drugs.
Singye Dema
Edited by Sherub Dorji
