The international drug trafficking organization that uses Nepal's airport as a transit point to transport its narcotics worldwide has been dealt a severe blow.

Nepal Police detained seven women from Africa who brought 51 kilograms of heroin worth Rs 1.2 billion into the country. Fifty-two kilograms of heroin, including 2 kilograms of Gray and 49 Kilograms of White heroin, were confiscated from the smugglers by the Bureau of Drug Control during an operation called "Operation White Dust."

There has never been a heroin seizure like this in the history of the Nepalese police. From June 12 to 14, the Bureau's team arrested seven African women from various locations in Kathmandu.

Sibisi Thandekile, Muriel Quedukwaji, Thembeni Nsamba, Shablala Khanyisil Yobhonne, Rosinah Nonkle Janjie, Maureen Mathiba of Mahla, Morosi Sujan Kofu, and Marlese Badenhosmer who landed at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu on June 12 on a Fly Dubai Flight, were arrested near Thamel area of Kathmandu, according to the Bureau chief Jeevan Kumar Shrestha.

The Bureau released the names of arrested women during a press conference on Tuesday. "We conducted two operations last year, and we made these arrests based on the findings of those operations," Superintendent Shrestha said.

He said the smugglers used the Nepali route to supply heroin to India through Nepal. "The seized heroin is entering third countries through India rather than being supplied here in Nepal. Past research has shown the same," says SP Shrestha.

He said that seven arrested African women entered Nepal from South Africa via Dubai and had brought heroin to Nepal by hiding it in different parts of their suitcases. The Bureau said that the seven arrested are being kept in police custody, and further investigation is underway.