Police in Pokhara, Kaski, have arrested 29-year-old Amisa Dhungana, the operator of Jaldhare Pharmacy at Kalika Chowk in ward number 26 of Pokhara Metropolitan City, after seizing a large quantity of drugs from the store. Dhungana was taken into custody on charges connected to the illegal sale of controlled drugs, and investigators say the seizure confirmed that illicit drug trafficking was being run through the drug store itself.
According to reports published by Khabarhub and Ratopati, the case points to a practice that enforcement agencies in Nepal have repeatedly warned about: the use of an ordinary-looking retail outlet as a front for the sale of controlled substances outside the legal supply chain.
Arrest behind the pharmacy counter
The accused, Amisa Dhungana, operated Jaldhare Pharmacy, which sits at Kalika Chowk in ward 26 of Pokhara Metropolitan City, one of Nepal's largest urban centres and the headquarters of Kaski district. Police arrested her on charges related to the illegal sale of controlled drugs being carried out under the cover of the pharmacy.
The key facts of the case as they have emerged so far are:
- Accused: Amisa Dhungana, 29, operator of Jaldhare Pharmacy
- Location of the store: Kalika Chowk, ward number 26, Pokhara Metropolitan City, Kaski
- Charges: Illegal sale of controlled drugs under the cover of a pharmacy
- Evidence recovered: A large quantity of drugs seized from the store
For a business that residents of the area would normally approach for everyday medicines, the accusation represents a serious breach of trust. A pharmacy occupies a privileged position in the community because it is expected to dispense medicines responsibly, and the allegation in this case is that that position was exploited to sell controlled drugs unlawfully.
Seizure points to a trafficking operation
What distinguishes the case, according to the reports, is the conclusion drawn from the seizure itself. The large quantity of drugs recovered from the store confirmed that illicit drug trafficking was being operated through the drug store, meaning the pharmacy was not merely an outlet that had occasionally strayed from the rules, but the vehicle through which the illegal trade was conducted.
Initial reports did not specify the exact volume or the precise categories of the substances recovered, describing the seizure only as a large quantity of drugs. Even without those details, the recovery established that controlled drugs were moving out of the shop through channels that bypassed the prescriptions, records and oversight that the law requires for such products.
The operation in Pokhara adds to the record of actions taken by Nepali authorities against the illegal sale of controlled medicines. Retail pharmacies are required to be registered with the Department of Drug Administration and to operate within strict limits on what they can sell and how, particularly when it comes to substances that carry a risk of misuse. Sales of controlled drugs without the required authorisation are treated as a law enforcement matter, not simply a regulatory lapse.
Why pharmacy fronts concern regulators
The misuse of pharmacies as cover for drug sales is a recurring concern in Nepal's fight against substance abuse. Because a pharmacy can obtain and stock medicines legitimately, a dishonest operator has both the supply and the storefront needed to distribute controlled substances to people who could never obtain them through legal prescriptions. This makes such outlets harder to detect than street-level dealing and more damaging to public confidence in the health system.
Nepal's legal framework addresses this on two fronts. The Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033 (1976) criminalises the trafficking of narcotic substances, while the Drug Act, 2035 (1978) governs the sale and distribution of pharmaceuticals and penalises those who operate outside its rules. Violations under these frameworks can lead to prosecution, fines and imprisonment, and cases involving the sale of controlled drugs from commercial premises are typically treated with particular seriousness because of the scale and concealment involved.
Enforcement agencies have in recent years highlighted the role of unscrupulous medicine sellers in feeding the misuse of controlled and prescription-only substances. Operations that result in seizures from registered premises are presented by police as a warning that a licence to sell medicine is not a licence to sell drugs.
What happens next
Dhungana is in police custody following the arrest, and the case is expected to proceed under the drug control provisions that apply to the illegal sale of controlled substances. As is standard in Nepali criminal procedure, police will typically complete their investigation before seeking to forward the case for prosecution, and the court will determine guilt and any sentence based on the evidence, including the drugs seized from the store.
Further details, including the exact nature of the substances recovered and whether any others were involved in supplying the pharmacy, had not been made public in the initial reports.
For residents of Pokhara, the case is a reminder that the neighbourhood drug store, one of the most frequently visited businesses in any locality, is also a point where the state's regulatory system can be tested. The seizure at Kalika Chowk shows that when that system is abused, the response can reach directly to the counter of the shop itself.
