70-Year-Old U.S. Citizen Kidnapped in Nepal; $320K Ransom Demanded, Female Suspect Arrested After Tip from U.S. Embassy

A 37-year-old woman, Sarita Lama, has been arrested by Nepal Police on charges of kidnapping a 70-year-old U.S. citizen and demanding a ransom of 300,000 euros (approximately 320,000 USD). The incident took place in Pokhara, Nepal, where the elderly U.S. citizen, a woman, was staying at a hotel in Lakeside with friends during a visit to the Muktinath Temple.

The kidnapping occurred on March 24, 2025, and the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu informed the Kaski District Police on March 25, prompting an immediate investigation.

Sarita Lama, a resident of Belkotgadhi Municipality in Nuwakot District, was apprehended in Newarpani, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, in Makwanpur District. The arrest was a joint effort by the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, Makwanpur Police, and Kaski Police. The victim was safely rescued by authorities following the operation.

According to Kaski Police Inspector Abinash Deep G.C., Lama is accused of abducting the elderly American woman and holding her for ransom. After her arrest, the District Court granted a seven-day extension for further investigation under charges of kidnapping and bodily hostage, as per Nepal’s Criminal Code 2074 (2017).

If found guilty, Lama faces a potential prison sentence of seven to ten years and a fine ranging from 70,000 to 100,000 Nepali rupees (approximately 525 to 750 USD).

Kidnappings of U.S. citizens or other foreigners in Nepal are rarely documented in public records. The U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory for Nepal does not list kidnapping as a primary concern for travelers, instead highlighting risks related to political instability, crime (e.g., theft), and natural disasters.

The U.S. Embassy in Nepal provides assistance to U.S. citizens who are victims of crime, including kidnapping, but does not publish specific statistics on such incidents. According to the embassy’s website, consular officers can assist with contacting local authorities and family members but cannot directly investigate crimes.

The Bureau of Consular Affairs and the FBI’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell track kidnappings of Americans abroad. Since 2015, over 200 kidnapped U.S. citizens have been recovered globally, though no specific figures for Nepal are publicly available.

Nepal attracts many tourists—over one million annually before the pandemic—including Americans drawn to trekking and cultural experiences. The number of American tourists visiting Nepal has recently increased. In February 2025 alone, 10,348 tourists from the United States visited Nepal, marking a 10.7% rise compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

Among the total number of foreign tourists arriving in Nepal, Americans ranked second in February. Indian tourists took the top spot, while Chinese tourists ranked third.