Condoms on India-Nepal smugglers' list

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After currency, condoms on India-Nepal smugglers' list

31 Jan 2009, 1737 hrs IST, IANS

KATHMANDU: After drugs and counterfeit Indian currency, smugglers

operating in India and Nepal through the open border between the two

countries have now added a new commodity to their list - condoms.

The new crime came to light after Indian police recently came across

two suitcases stuffed with condoms at the railway station in border

town Rupaidiya, Nepal's official media said Saturday.

Several health institutions and NGOs have been distributing condoms

free of cost in Nepal in a bid to raise awareness about safe sex

practices and arrest the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as sexually

transmitted diseases.

However, the distribution and vigilance parts of the operation being

weak, the freebies are being collected by some people to be sold in

Indian towns across the border.

Nepal's official news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti said Indian

police have registered a case.

Condom smuggling is rampant in Banke district in south Nepal where

besides all government health posts, over 50 NGOs working in the

health sector distribute them free.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Condom_smuggling_on_Nepal_bor

der/articleshow/4057338.cms