India, Nepal and Sri Lanka see wave of drug arrests

In Kathmandu, Nepal, two Indian women were detained at Tribhuvan International Airport with 8 kg of marijuana concealed in their luggage after arriving from Bangkok. The same week, an Indian national, Bidyananda Yadav (22), was among six people arrested in Madhesh province with about 243 g of brown sugar and other contraband.

At Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport, a 79‑year‑old Spanish engineer was caught when 2.2 kg of cocaine was discovered in delayed baggage. In a separate operation at the same airport, police seized 602 g of methamphetamine hidden in a Maldivian man's underwear and later arrested a second Maldivian, recovering an additional 10.67 g. Both suspects are being held as investigations continue.

In Thiruvananthapuram, India, police seized more than 100 g of MDMA from a youth who attempted to flee after being confronted by anti‑narcotics officers. These coordinated busts illustrate heightened enforcement against narcotics trafficking across the Indian Ocean region.