The prolonged blockade and protests have compelled people across the country to pay exorbitant prices for daily essentials. However, the locals allege that the blockade has become a boon to the smugglers as well as to the security personnel of Nepal and India.
Even the customs employees have accused the security officials for promoting smuggling by receiving kickbacks.
"We are interrogated on both sides of the border while importing daily essentials goods like gas, sugar and salt," Jaya Dev Mandal of Sakarpura complained, adding that no one cares about the massive smuggling of goods at night.
"Security personnel of both sides receive commission either directly or from the agents of the smugglers," he added.
Smuggling has thrived in Ramnagar, Kodarkatti, Swornapatti, Pato, Govindapur, Banainiyan and Tilathi-Kunauli. The Tilathi-Kunauli customs point has become an easier route for the smugglers in the recent months.
Along with border outpost of Armed Police Force (APF) and Nepal Police, there is a customs office in the main customs point at Tilathi-Kunauli. However, the smugglers have been taking advantage of lack of coordination between the security agencies and the customs officials.
According to Manish Mahato, chief of Rajbiraj Customs Office, customs officers have confiscated more goods than the police in the last five months.
A reliable source informed Republica that the police have been using youths of VDCs along the border including Tilathi, Sakarpura, Rampura, Malhania and others villages to collect commission and set the stage for smuggling. Those middlemen also get a certain percentage of commission for helping the police to collect the kickbacks.
A police source claimed that the smugglers provide Rs 2,500 to 15,000 to them each week. The source also claimed that the police themselves have been involved in smuggling in some areas.
Meanwhile, Rajbiraj Customs chief Mahato informed that revenue collection has declined due to the rise in smuggling. He informed that the customs office has so far been able to collect only Rs 9.7 million in the ongoing fiscal year. The customs office had plans to collect Rs 30.4 million in revenue during this period.
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