Three arrested with 132 grams of brown heroin in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur

Kathmandu, November 7, 2026 — Police have arrested three people, including a former Armed Police Force (APF) personnel who recently completed a seven-year prison sentence for robbery and theft, on charges of possessing and distributing brown heroin.

A team from the Narcotics Control Bureau arrested the suspects in Kathmandu on Thursday. Those arrested have been identified as 37-year-old Yubaraj Bhandari of Isma Rural Municipality-5, Gulmi; 33-year-old Kaushal Kumar Rai of Rajbiraj Municipality-3, Saptari; and Gopal Sah of Nagarain Municipality-5, Dhanusha.

Police recovered 132 grams and 110 milligrams of brown heroin, Rs 250,000 in cash and a digital weighing scale from the suspects, according to the bureau.

Superintendent of Police Durga Regmi told Ratopati that Bhandari was initially arrested near Shiva Temple in Ward 8 of Tarkeshwar Municipality, Kathmandu. A search of his rented room led to the recovery of 35 grams and 460 milligrams of brown heroin and Rs 250,000 in cash.

Bhandari is a former APF personnel. Based on information obtained from his statement, police subsequently arrested Sah and Rai in Bhaktapur. Another 96 grams and 650 milligrams of brown heroin were recovered from them, SP Regmi said.

Bhandari had previously been arrested on September 5, 2019, in a robbery and theft case. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rs 80,000. He was released on September 9, 2026.