The Philippines has experienced a record-breaking wave of heroin seizures, with 21 drug busts and 32 arrests in 2025, a sharp increase from 2024. The crackdown also intercepted three heroin smuggling attempts. Customs seized dried cannabis and brown sugar at Paro International Airport, prompting investigation into local consumption and Bhutan’s transit route use. Suspects confess to smuggling contraband for India, posing risks to Bhutanese society, particularly youth, who are already disproportionately affected by substance abuse. The police have demanded that all relevant agencies respond more forcefully and cohesively. Police caution that the drug problem, especially with strong compounds like brown sugar, could worsen if prompt and concerted action is not taken.
A broader drug problem in the nation, especially among young people, coincides with the surge in brown sugar trafficking. More than half of all arrests for drug-related offenses between 2023 and 2024 occurred among 3,678 people under the age of 24. Young guys without jobs or students make up the majority of those arrested. Inhalants, marijuana, sedatives, and opioids were the most frequently abused narcotics among young Bhutanese, according to a recent assessment by the National Council’s SCAC. The RBP’s 2024 data revealed significant drug seizures, with Integrated Check Posts at international borders being key channels. Bhutan has implemented policies to curb substance abuse.