BBS recently ran two stories:
On 4 March they reported that:
The Thimphu district court yesterday sentenced a 23-year-old monk to three years in prison for smuggling tobacco. He is the first man to be convicted and sentenced under the controversial tobacco act.
Sonam Tshering was caught at the Chunzom checkpoint carrying 48 packets of Baba or chewing tobacco worth Nu.120. He confessed that he bought the chewing tobacco from a shop in the border town of Jaigaon for his own personal consumption.
And on 13 March, they reported that:
Thimphu City police have apprehended a 17-year-old boy and two men for substance abuse. The 17-year-old boy was apprehended from the vegetable market area. He was found intoxicated and carrying several tablets.
After talking to him, police apprehended the two men for dealing in drugs.
One of the men was apprehended earlier this month for illegal transaction of drugs. He was released after paying fine.
Our laws seem to say that it’s better to be caught selling drugs than to be caught possessing tobacco.
Photo credit: BBS