KATHMANDU, Aug 3: The police on Saturday nabbed an Italian tourist from Tribhuvan International Airport while trying to smuggle 3.1 kg of illegal contraband charas hiding in a false bottom of his suitcase.
According to the SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, deputy chief of Narcotics Control Bureau, New Baneshwar, an Italian citizen was arrested soon after charas was found in his luggage during screening. Because of the irregular shape of the suitcase caused by the false bottom, it was not difficult for the police to notice it, a police deployed in the operation told Republica. [break]
"When we opened the suitcase, we noticed false bottom covered with clothes. The contraband was covered with a paper," he said. The arrested is identified as Jianluigi Maran, 58, holding passport number-YA 3536889.
The police said that he was about to fly back to Italy via Etihad Airways with transit at Abu Dhabi. According to the police, Maran had entered Nepal via land route from India and stayed about five days in Pokhara. He had come to Kathmandu on Saturday from Pokhara. Police confirmed that he bought the contraband in Pokhara. We are investigating the case and we will charge Maran as per the existing laws and will be sent to jail, said the source.