Rajasthan ANTF nabs ₹75,000 bounty drug smuggler at Nepal border
Synopsis
Rajasthan's ANTF pulled off its first-ever cross-border bounty arrest — nabbing a fugitive who had spent a year managing his drug network from Kathmandu via undercover officers who posed as temple vendors and drug buyers. The sting at Raxaul, just hours before Sohanlal planned to flee to Bhutan, is a rare instance of Indian state police executing a transnational covert operation.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan ANTF arrested drug smuggler Sohanlal , alias Sonu , at the Raxaul border on 10 October 2026 , ending a six-year fugitive run.
Sohanlal carried a police bounty of ₹75,000 and had an NDPS Act case registered against him in Jalore district in 2020 .
He had allegedly been operating his narcotics network remotely from Kathmandu since October 2025 , and was planning to flee to Bhutan on the day of his arrest.
This is the ANTF's first operation to apprehend a reward-carrying fugitive from a foreign location; the task force has now arrested 103 wanted criminals across 12 states .
Undercover officers posed as a garland seller, a tilak vendor, and drug buyers from Punjab to identify and lure Sohanlal across the border.
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Rajasthan Police arrested wanted drug smuggler Sohanlal, alias Sonu, at the Raxaul border in Bihar on 10 October 2026, ending a six-year run from the law. Sohanlal carried a police reward of ₹75,000 and had allegedly been running a narcotics network from Kathmandu, Nepal since fleeing India in October 2025.
Operation Vishnahas: How the Arrest Unfolded
The operation, codenamed 'Operation Vishnahas', was conducted under the guidance of Rajasthan Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma and Additional DGP Dinesh MN, according to ANTF Inspector General of Police Vikas Kumar. Undercover officers posed as major drug buyers from Punjab to infiltrate Sohanlal's associate network and arrange a face-to-face meeting.
A team travelled to Kathmandu and covertly surveilled the area around Pashupatinath Temple, where Sohanlal reportedly visited regularly. Officers adopted disguises — including posing as a garland seller and a tilak vendor — to identify him without alerting his network. Authorities then allegedly persuaded him to cross into Indian territory at Raxaul for a purported business deal, where he was apprehended.
Investigators noted that Sohanlal had been planning to flee Nepal for Bhutan on 10 October but was taken into custody before he could execute the plan.
Profile of the Accused
Sohanlal, 32, a resident of Balotra district in Rajasthan, reportedly began his criminal career by smuggling illicit liquor in 2016 before allegedly graduating to opium and poppy husk. He is said to have procured narcotics from Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh and from Chittorgarh, Udaipur, and Bhilwara in Rajasthan, supplying consignments to smugglers operating in the Marwar and Punjab regions.
A case was registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Jalore district in 2020, after which he allegedly began moving between Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa, Delhi, and Chandigarh to evade arrest before eventually fleeing to Nepal.
Significance: First Cross-Border Bounty Arrest for ANTF
With this arrest, the ANTF has now apprehended 103 wanted criminals carrying police rewards, including 102 previously arrested from locations across 12 states. According to the police, this marks the task force's first operation to apprehend a reward-carrying fugitive from a foreign location — a notable milestone in cross-border counter-narcotics enforcement.
This comes amid growing concerns over narcotics trafficking routes linking Rajasthan to the India-Nepal border corridor, which law enforcement agencies have flagged as a transit zone for drug consignments. Sohanlal's alleged use of Nepal as a base to remotely manage his Rajasthan network highlights the transnational dimension increasingly seen in organised drug smuggling cases.
What Happens Next
Sohanlal has been taken into custody for further legal proceedings under the NDPS Act. The ANTF said officers involved in the operation would be felicitated at its headquarters. Investigators are expected to pursue leads on his associates still active in Rajasthan and Punjab.
Point of View
However well-executed, does not resolve.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sohanlal, the drug smuggler arrested at the Raxaul border?
Sohanlal, alias Sonu, is a 32-year-old resident of Balotra district in Rajasthan, wanted under the NDPS Act since 2020. He allegedly ran a narcotics network sourcing opium and poppy husk from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and supplying it to smugglers in the Marwar and Punjab regions.
What is Operation Vishnahas?
Operation Vishnahas is the Rajasthan ANTF covert operation that led to Sohanlal's arrest on 10 October 2026. Officers posed as drug buyers and temple vendors in Kathmandu to identify and lure him to the Raxaul border, where he was apprehended on crossing into Indian territory.
Why is this arrest historically significant for the Rajasthan ANTF?
It is the ANTF's first operation to apprehend a reward-carrying fugitive from a foreign location. With this arrest, the task force has now nabbed 103 wanted criminals carrying police bounties, previously arresting 102 from across 12 Indian states.
How long had Sohanlal been evading arrest, and where was he hiding?
Sohanlal had been absconding since 2020, moving between several Indian cities before reportedly fleeing to Nepal in October 2025. He was allegedly managing his drug network remotely from Kathmandu and was planning to flee to Bhutan on the day of his arrest.
What charges does Sohanlal face and what happens next?
Sohanlal faces charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, stemming from a case registered in Jalore district in 2020. He has been taken into custody for further legal proceedings, and investigators are expected to pursue leads on his associates in Rajasthan and Punjab.
