Nepal Police have arrested 21 people across various districts of the country for possession of illegal controlled substances during special operations conducted on Saturday and Sunday. The two-day crackdown produced several significant seizures, including 1,310 tablets of Tramadol recovered in Kathmandu and 14 kilograms of marijuana found in the possession of two Indian women at Tribhuvan International Airport.

The coordinated weekend operation was confirmed through details published by Khabarhub. While police have so far publicised the particulars of two headline cases, the identities of the remaining detainees, along with the types and quantities of substances allegedly recovered from them, have not yet been disclosed in initial reports.

Simultaneous Raids Across Several Districts

The special operation was carried out across multiple districts at the same time, with police teams mobilised throughout the weekend to act against the possession and distribution of banned controlled substances. According to the available information, the drive covered locations ranging from the capital to other parts of the country.

Key details of the operation include:

  • 21 individuals were taken into custody for possession of illegal controlled substances.
  • The special operation was conducted over two days, Saturday and Sunday.
  • Major seizures included 1,310 Tramadol tablets, Rs 42,598 in cash and 14 kilograms of marijuana.
  • Two Indian nationals were among those apprehended during the crackdown.

The weekend drive comes as law enforcement agencies in Nepal continue to prioritise action against the possession, sale and trafficking of narcotics, with special operations of this kind forming a central part of that effort.

Tramadol Tablets and Cash Seized in Kathmandu

In the capital, police arrested two men, identified as Ganesh Shrestha and Anis KC, in Kageshwori Manohara-4. During the operation, officers recovered 1,310 tablets of Tramadol, a controlled opioid painkiller, along with Rs 42,598 in cash from the duo.

Tramadol is a prescription medication used to treat moderate to severe pain, but it is classified as a controlled substance in Nepal due to its potential for abuse and dependence. The misuse of pharmaceutical opioids has been a recurring concern for law enforcement agencies across South Asia, and the recovery of a large quantity of tablets in a single arrest highlights the scale of the challenge facing investigators.

The arrest in Kageshwori Manohara-4, an area within Kathmandu district, also demonstrates the reach of the weekend operation into the capital's own neighbourhoods, where officers combined the seizure of the tablets with a substantial amount of cash.

Indian Women Held with 14 kg of Marijuana at TIA

In a separate case that has drawn particular attention, two Indian women from Gujarat were apprehended outside the arrival area of Tribhuvan International Airport with 14 kilograms of marijuana. The women have been identified as 46-year-old Sheikh Shabanabanu Yar Mahammad and 35-year-old Ansari Sharifa Abbas, as reported by RatoPati.

The report describes the seized consignment as Thai marijuana, indicating the suspected origin of the drug recovered from the two women. The arrest took place outside the arrival area of the airport, where arriving passengers are screened after landing.

Tribhuvan International Airport serves as Nepal's main international gateway, and the interception of a consignment of this size at the facility underscores the scrutiny applied to travellers arriving from abroad. The detention of foreign nationals in connection with a 14-kilogram haul of marijuana represents one of the most significant seizures linked to the weekend operation.

Continued Enforcement Against Narcotics

The 21 arrests made over Saturday and Sunday reflect the ongoing enforcement push by Nepal Police against the possession, sale and trafficking of controlled substances. Under Nepali law, involvement with narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, whether pharmaceutical opioids such as Tramadol or banned plant-based drugs such as marijuana, carries serious legal consequences, including imprisonment.

The two marquee cases of the weekend, the Tramadol seizure in Kageshwori Manohara-4 and the airport marijuana bust, illustrate the different fronts on which the operation was conducted, from residential areas of the capital to the arrival halls of the country's primary international airport.

Further details regarding the remaining arrestees, including their identities, the locations of their arrests and the substances recovered from them, have not been made public in the reports available so far. Additional information on all 21 cases is expected to emerge as investigations progress and the detained individuals are processed under the relevant drug control provisions.