Nepal: Six arrested in connection with gold smuggling case from Hong Kong

Jul 20, 2023

Kathmandu (Nepal), July 20 (ANI): The Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) brought the confiscated gold to the Mint Division of the Nepal Rastra Bank to be weighed and evaluated for purity. Seized on Wednesday, the smuggled gold inside the shoe brake imported from Hong Kong is claimed to contain about a quintal (1000 Kilograms) of gold. On Thursday afternoon, the DRI escorted the gold-containing shoe-brake to the Mint Division of the Nepal Rastra Bank in Kathmandu. A total of 8 packets were taken out from the vehicles in the presence of the security officials and taken into the building. However, the authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the arrested individuals. The operation took place at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Wednesday evening, where a team from the Department managed to seize more than 100 kilograms of gold. The valuable yellow metal was being transported in a taxi, having passed through TIA customs. The gold interception occurred right in front of the airport customs office gate, leading to the immediate arrest of two individuals. Further progress came on Thursday morning when four more suspects were taken into custody. According to Dhungana, the gold was traced back to its origin in Hong Kong, marking a notable incident as the largest gold seizure ever recorded in Nepal.