Four Indians held with large quantity of pharmaceutical drugs in an ambulance

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 7: Police have arrested four individuals with a large quantity of illegal drug Tramadol capsules from Bhattedanda, Bagmati Rural Municipality–3 in Lalitpur.

They were apprehended at a checkpoint near the Bhattedanda police post along the Kanti Lokpath road section while transporting the drugs in an ambulance heading towards Kathmandu on Sunday early morning.

The arrested individuals include 22-year-old ambulance driver Mohammad Umar Siddiqui from Motihari, Bihar, India, 20-year-old Samir Alam, 33-year-old Mohammad Munna Ansari and 45-year-old Norjan Khatun. They have been handed over to the Chapagaun Police Circle in Lalitpur for further investigation.

The Indian ambulance (registration number BR 05 PA 0421) was coming at high speed from Birgunj towards Kathmandu when it was stopped for inspection at 1:55 am on Saturday. During the security check, the drugs were found hidden inside it.

According to the police, ambulance driver Mohammad Umar Siddiqui attempted to flee when signaled to stop but was immediately taken into custody. Upon checking the ambulance, the police found 94,080 Tramadol capsules stored in two separate bags in the patient area.

Among the seized capsules, 1,800 blister packs labeled ‘Tramanil’ contained 30 capsules each, and 2,004 blister packs labeled ‘Traman’ contained 20 capsules each.

In addition to the capsules, the police also confiscated one ambulance and three mobile phones from the suspects. Further investigation is ongoing, according to the District Police Office, Lalitpur, on Sunday.