Nepal Becomes New Transit Hub for Tramadol as India Cracks Down on Production

Kathmandu: Eight hundred thousand Tramadol tablets were seized in a week's time, whereas previously it used to be just found occasionally in Nepal. Smuggler net activists who are smuggling Tramadol from India into Nepal get caught occasionally. But the evidence of the seizure of the drug within a week paints a concern level of threat.

Shribahadur Rai and Bipinkumar Mahato were picked up by the Narcotics Control Bureau on February 16 in possession of 180,430 Tramadol tablets. A week later, an even massive amount was seized. Sudhir Lamichhane and Simon Banwari were detained on February 24 with 564,000 tablets. The four were detained in Kathmandu.

These painkiller tablets fall under the class of controlled narcotics. They cannot be sold without a prescription from a doctor. Because these tablets contain morphine and psychoactive drugs, drug addicts purchase and take them illegally.

Although it has been observed that drug users in Nepal use stimulant-class controlled drugs and such controlled drugs are being smuggled into the country from India, Tramadol has never been detected in such quantity ever.

Narcotics Control Bureau spokesman Narayan Prasad Adhikari says this is the largest quantity of Tramadol the bureau has ever seized. He further said preliminary investigations suggest the arrested individuals smuggled these from India with the intention to sell them in the Nepali market, and detailed investigation is underway.

'A week ago, we caught two people with one and a half lakh (150,000) pills. On February 24, we nabbed two people with over five and a half lakh (550,000) pills, more than the previous occasion," SP Adhikari told Ukeraa. "In our investigation till now, it appears that the arrested men brought these especially targeting the Nepali market. We're investigating if there are other reasons as well.'

One of those who were involved in smuggling Tramadol in Kathmandu was also found in April. The bureau arrested 26-year-old Kabir Lama with 42,500 capsules of Tramadol Hydrochloride and 10,000 tablets of Tramadex Hydrochloride 50mg.

Now, over half a million are being found from a single group. This indicates an increasing trend of illegal importation of various brands of Tramadol from India to Nepal.

Indication of Health Hazards

The use of Tramadol as a replacement for expensive drugs like heroin is increasing. Particularly in Africa and Middle Eastern countries, its impact has been leading to crisis within the healthcare sector.

In a recent report by BBC, it came to light that it has established a public health emergency in certain regions of West Africa. According to the report, India is the main production center, and Indian manufacturers produce Tramadol, which is trafficked to West African countries like Ghana and Nigeria.

After widespread smuggling, India recently revoked manufacturing and export approvals of the medicine. With Indian production having been cut off overnight, it now appears to be increasing drastically with smuggling into Nepal.

India is now conducting raids on legally licensed Tramadol manufacturing factories and incinerating already produced medications. Arrests of people in possession of hundreds of thousands of pills in Nepal are also growing.

Hemant Malla, former DIG of Nepal Police and an individual who has spent many years researching narcotics control, opines that Nepal's surprise detection of massive amounts of Tramadol indicates risk. Based on the quantities seized in Nepal, he doubts they were being imported solely for the Nepali market.

"It has been spreading terror in African countries. Its abuse is very high among them," he added. "The number of seizures made in Nepal suggests international smuggling rings might be passing through Nepal. This warrants serious investigation."

From Serious Respiratory Effects to Life-Threatening Risks

Tramadol is an opioid analgesic, experts say, that is used for pain relief. It can be a good experience for the user and has addiction potential when used regularly over a long period of time. Individuals addicted to expensive drugs tend to use it as an alternative.

It is also legally available from prescriptions. But due to excessive demand in those who are addicted, its illegal commerce is extensive. India appears to be the major source of illegal trade.

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