Key Takeaways:
- 67 firearms seized, 84 arrests between April 14–July 16, 2026
- Weapons included Chinese pistols, revolvers, homemade and muzzle-loading guns
- 55 abandoned gun barrels recovered from community forests in Dang Aug 1–4
- Police urge public to report or surrender illegal arms to strengthen safety
A nationwide police crackdown on illegal firearms has led to the arrest of 84 people, the seizure of 67 firearms, and the recovery of 55 abandoned muzzle-loading guns hidden in community forests in Dang, underscoring the scale of illicit weapons scattered across the country.
According to the police, the special operation carried out between April 14, and July 16 resulted in arrests across all seven provinces. The suspects included 18 from Gandaki Province, 14 from Koshi, 13 from Lumbini, 11 from Madhesh, 10 from Karnali, eight from the Kathmandu Valley, and five each from Bagmati and Sudurpaschim.
Police seized a variety of illegal weapons during the campaign, including two Chinese-made pistols, two pistols, one revolver, nine homemade pistols, 41 muzzle-loading guns, nine other guns and three air guns. They also recovered 351 rounds of ammunition, comprising 263 SLR rounds, 70 rounds for various firearms, 14 rounds for homemade pistols and four rounds for Chinese-made pistols.
In a related operation, police recovered 55 abandoned muzzle-loading gun barrels from community and national forests in Dang during a four-day search conducted between August 1 and 4.
Search teams from the District Police Office, Dang, along with personnel from area police offices and police posts, recovered 48 gun barrels from community forests in Bangalachuli Rural Municipality-4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, including Himal Laligurans, Kharkholi, Bangalachuli, Lahare, Mauwalekh, Lwange-Bhatkule, New Kalika and Nava Chetanshil community forests, as well as adjoining national forest areas.
A further seven muzzle-loading gun barrels were recovered from Biraha Community Forest in Lamahi Municipality-9. Police said all the weapons were found abandoned and concealed inside forest areas, adding that further investigation is underway.
Nepal Police said the nationwide campaign aims to curb illegal arms trafficking and their criminal use. The force has urged the public to report concealed firearms or voluntarily surrender illegally possessed weapons to help strengthen public safety and reduce crime.