Surkhet police have started using testing kits to identify drug users.

Suspects will be identified using the kit from Sunday, said SP Sudhir Raj Shahi of the District Police, Surkhet, as there have been complaints of increased drug trafficking and users in Karnali Province in recent times. 

Since there is no evidence to bring people who drive public vehicles after consuming drugs to justice, the users often escape, said SP Shahi.

‘We have received various types of test kits, we will use these kits in various main areas of Surkhet and conduct tests using various methods,’ he said, ‘The kit will detect drug use, we will send the kit used on the person who consumed it to the hospital.’

He said that the case process will be taken forward after the hospital provides a detailed test report. He said that the test kit is being verified by the hospital to provide evidence to the court when the case is filed.  He said that the technological test kit was obtained with the help of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOPS).