KATHMANDU, April 28: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested 21 individuals from 11 districts in connection with large-scale illegal financial activities involving more than Rs 17.86 billion.
According to police, the arrested individuals were involved in operating illegal internal remittance services by channeling funds sent from abroad into Nepal through unauthorized means. Despite the closure of formal internal remittance systems, the suspects reportedly continued transactions that disrupted the official flow of remittances.
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Preliminary investigations suggest that the group was also engaged in customs evasion, illicit gold trading, and tax avoidance activities. Police said the suspects used digital wallet services such as Sajilo Pay and Paywell Nepal Pvt Ltd to deposit money into multiple bank accounts, subsequently converting the funds into e-money via money transfer companies and transferring them to the accounts of relatives of migrant workers and students abroad.
Those arrested are from districts including Morang, Mahottari, Saptari, Sarlahi, Dhanusha, Parsa, Nawalparasi, and Chitwan, among others.
Authorities have linked the suspects to businesses and agencies such as DS Traders and Remittance, Dip Jyoti Traders, Riya Traders, Anand Traders, New Sandhya Enterprises, Elita Money Transfer, Shri Anjal Enterprises, R&R Sub Remit Pvt Ltd, Jai Ma Janaki Money Transfer, Puja Suppliers, Tashi Travels and Tours, Shivam Enterprises, Sasyavika Money Transfer, Golden Sky Tours and Travels, Khusi Money Transfer, Radhika Traders, Himalayan Money Transfer, and Sagarmatha Remittance, among others.
Police said the transactions were conducted in violation of regulations issued by Nepal Rastra Bank. An investigation is ongoing under the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, 2002. Further searches are underway to identify other individuals involved in the case.
