KATHMANDU, July 21: A joint squad of the Department of Drug Administration and the Narcotics Control Bureau of Nepal Police on Thursday raided around a dozen medical shops based in Kathmandu and found four of them selling prescription drugs illegally.

According to the Narcotics Control Bureau of Nepal Police, they raided 11 pharmacies randomly and found four of them selling prescription drugs to drug abusers.

The police identified the four pharmacies as Sherawali Poly-Clinic based in Bhimsengola, Bageshwari Pharma based in Jay Bageshwari, Joshi Pharmacy based in Lampokhari, Chabahil, and Rupandehi Drug House based in Chuchchepati.

“We found them selling painkillers--Opidol, Traflash, Spasmo--without any prescription or maintaining records of selling,” SSP Ganesh KC of NCB said.

The operators of the pharmacies have been detained for further actions.

The joint squad seized 60 tablets of Opidol, 790 tablets of Spasmo, 120 tablets of Traflash and 81 tablets of Tramadol from those pharmacies.

According to NCB, the number of people abusing prescription drugs has surged rapidly in the recent years, with youngsters making up largest group of abusers.

The pharmacies sold prescription drugs over the counter at higher prices, the police official said, adding, the arrested would be charged under Drugs Act 2035.

The police said the crackdown against illegal sales of prescription would be intensified in the future. 

 
• department of drug administration and the narcotics control bureau
 
• nepal police