February 24, 2025
THIMPHU – In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, customs officials at Paro International Airport have intercepted three heroin smuggling attempts in recent months (December, January and February), seizing a total of 31.5 kilogrammes (kg) of the illicit contrabands.
The increased frequency of such interceptions has heightened fears that Bhutan is increasingly being targeted as a transit point by global narcotics networks, raising concerns about the country’s potential vulnerability to becoming a conduit for international drug smuggling operations.
While the country has dealt with controlled substances such as marijuana and pharmaceutical drugs, the emergence of heroin is also a concerning shift in the ongoing struggle against drug-related challenges.
The quantity of heroin seized has also escalated significantly from 4 kg to 9 kg, which reached to 17 kg in the latest drug bust.
In the most recent case on February 4, a 37-year-old Indian man was apprehended with 17.1 kg of heroin, in what is the largest seizure to date. He was travelling with his 27-year-old wife and five-year-old daughter. His wife was released after her involvement was ruled out along with her five-year-old daughter.
In January, a 28-year-old Indian man was intercepted with over 9 kg of heroin hidden in his checked-in luggage. He was travelling alone on a flight from Bangkok to Paro.
In another incident, a 50-year-old Indian man travelling alone from Bangkok to India via Paro was caught with 4.6 kg of heroin on December 22, 2024.
The heroin consignments had passed undetected through three international airports—Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand.
An official from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said smugglers used sophisticated methods to smuggle the drugs. “The drugs were concealed in re-stitched suitcase linings, factory-sealed coffee packets, and commercially packaged food products, making detection through conventional screening methods extremely challenging.”
Customs enforcement teams were able to identify and apprehend the suspects through rigorous risk profiling and behavioural assessment.
While the successful operations highlight the vigilance of Bhutanese Customs in tackling transnational crimes, officials said that some cases may have gone undetected due to the limitations of existing screening systems.
The intercepted cases involved smugglers arriving via direct flights from Thailand, with short stays in Bhutan and planned exits to India by land or air.
The 37-year-old man from Mumbai, who was traveling with his family and the suspect is currently under police detention.
According to police investigations, his trip to Laos was fully funded by handlers, who offered him a free trip in exchange for transporting a parcel. The family stayed in Laos for 13 days before traveling to Bhutan. A day before their departure, an unknown woman handed him a suitcase and a backpack.
The suspect in his statement to police claimed he was unaware of the drugs.
“The consignment was intended for delivery to Delhi, with the family planning to stay overnight in Paro before travelling to Phuentsholing to hand over the drugs across the border,” said a police official.
Paro police described the smuggling attempt as unusual. The heroin was concealed in factory-sealed coffee packets and waffle sweets to avoid detection. Additionally, in the backpack, heroin was hidden inside an airtight plastic layer that had been stitched back into place.
Paro police said that the packages appeared to be genuine Lao-made coffee and coffee mate, but upon opening, heroin was found.
The suspect and his family were to stay a night in Paro before taking a taxi to Phuentsholing, where the drugs were to be handed over across the border.
MoF officials emphasised the urgent need for advanced drug detection technology, enhanced personnel training, and stronger inter-agency collaboration to prevent Bhutan from becoming a soft target for organised drug syndicates.
Immediate measures proposed include deploying sniffer dogs at key entry points, increasing the number of female customs officers for effective security checks, implementing AI-driven passenger risk profiling systems to proactively detect high-risk travelers.
Meanwhile another official from the MoF stressed the importance of strengthening customs capacity not only at the airport but also at all other entry points to Bhutan.
“Authorities should closely monitor traveler behavior, with those displaying suspicious conduct subjected to thorough checks. Additionally, coordination with key stakeholders is essential to develop effective strategies to curb such illegal activities,” the official said.
In addition to airport seizures, heroin has also been intercepted in border areas. Last July, a 38-year-old truck driver was arrested at the Samdrupjongkhar Integrated Check Post for allegedly carrying hard drugs.
Authorities discovered 0.61 grammes of suspected drugs concealed in five test tubes hidden in the truck’s glove compartment. Tests conducted by the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) confirmed the substance to be heroin.
The Department of Revenue and Customs has called for heightened border security vigilance and international cooperation to combat the growing sophistication of drug smuggling networks.
The two Indian nationals arrested in December and January are currently in detention. Police have forwarded their case to the Office of the Attorney General.
They face charges of illegal transaction of controlled substances, which carries a prison sentence of nine to 15 years under Bhutan’s Penal Code.
Meanwhile the 37-year-old suspect from the February case is also in police custody, with investigations still ongoing.
Samples from the seized packages were sent to the BFDA, which confirmed the presence of heroin.
According to the police the detainees are suspected to be drug carriers.