SURKHET: An organized criminal group operating in western Nepal has been found involved in printing and circulating counterfeit currency, along with trafficking large quantities of opium, according to police.

In a major crackdown, Surkhet police arrested five members of the syndicate over a span of two days. Among those arrested is a media house operator.

The arrested individuals include 22-year-old Dilmaya Singh Thakuri and 33-year-old Ram Bahadur Singh of Kushe Rural Municipality-5 in Jajarkot; 35-year-old Ram Bahadur Oli and 38-year-old Prem Bahadur BK of Bheriganga-12, Surkhet; and 34-year-old Man Bahadur Sahakari of Kalikot, currently residing in Kohalpur-11, Banke.

Sahakari is the operator of Janagarjan Network Pvt. Ltd., a media outlet based in Banke, which was reportedly being used as a cover for illegal activities.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Surkhet Police publicly presented all five suspects, along with evidence of fake currency and opium seized during the operation.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudhir Raj Shahi, police confiscated counterfeit banknotes worth NPR 1.29 million and 30.672 kilograms of opium from the suspects.

The first arrest was made on July 15, around 1:30 AM, when a police team detained Dilmaya Thakuri from Shantitol in Birendranagar-10, Surkhet, recovering six fake banknotes of NPR 1,000 denomination from her possession.

Later that day, at around 6 PM, police raided Thakuri’s rented room and arrested Ram Bahadur Singh, seizing 1,236 counterfeit notes of NPR 1,000 denomination, totaling NPR 1.236 million.

By 10 PM the same day, two more suspects—Krishna Bahadur (35) and Prem Bahadur (38)—were arrested from their rented room in Thakuri Tol, Bheriganga-12. A search of their room led to the seizure of 11.372 kilograms of opium hidden in a black bag.

The operation continued the next morning (July 15), when police raided the media office operated by Sahakari in Kohalpur. There, police found 51 counterfeit notes of NPR 1,000 denomination and 19.3 kilograms of opium packed in 15 plastic bags.

From the same premises, police seized a printer, computer set, memory cards, chips, cameras, and various materials used to print counterfeit money.

“This group’s method of operation suggests it is not just an individual venture for profit, but a part of a well-organized criminal network,” SP Shahi said. “Further investigation is ongoing as we suspect the network is more widespread.”

Preliminary investigation indicates that the seized opium was sourced from districts like Rukum and Rolpa, where poppy cultivation has reportedly been taking place.

The media operator, Sahakari, has admitted to printing the counterfeit notes himself, though details about the exact printing location are still under investigation.

The suspects are being held in custody and are being investigated under charges related to counterfeit currency and narcotics under Nepal’s Drug Control Act.