Kathmandu, May 3
Police have arrested five persons at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on the charge of trying to smuggle 1.5 kg gold, on Sunday.
The suspects have been identified as Janak Khadka from Gulmi, Yam Lal Khanal from Pyuthan, Dhan Bahadur Tamang and Sumit Tamang from Nuwakot, and Raju BK from Kaski.
Thakur Gautam, an officer at the TIA Customs Office, says they had taken the undocumented gold by hiding it in speakers.
“Khadka and Khanal had come to Nepal via Air Arabia, Tamang duo via Himalaya Airlines, and BK via Nepal Airlines,” Gautam says, “Each speaker had 150 to 200 grams of gold.”
A joint team of the customs officials and the Kathmandu Metropolitan Crime Division had arrested them. The division’s chief, SSP Chandra Kubel Khapung, suspects the arrestees might have been mobilised by professional smugglers.
Security officials claim the smugglers these days mobilise Nepalis returning from foreign employment as smuggling gold in a big quantity has been impossible due to tight security checks.
