A joint team deputed by CIAA and DRI took the containers under control from different parts of Araniko Highway on Friday. The containers were heading toward the capital after completing necessary administrative formalities at Tatopani Customs Office - a key customs point along Nepal-China border.
“Investigation into the cases started from Friday itself under the observation of CIAA officials,” Ananda Dhakal, deputy director general of DRI, told Republica.
Dhakal, however, didn´t disclose why the containers were taken under control.
But a source at DRI said the containers were compounded based on a tip-off. The source said the exact reason will come out once the process to verify the related documents and searching of goods loaded into the containers is completed.
The seized containers were ferrying goods like shoes, sandals and clothes meant for Dashain and Tihar festivals.
Revenue officials said chances of revenue evasion increase when number of containers goes up with the rise in imports from China during major festivals.
“The probe might continue for at least a week as we need to launch comprehensive investigation to ascertain whether or not the containers were smuggling gold along with other investigations as per the complaints registered at CIAA,” the source added.
Cases of gold being smuggled into Nepal from Tibet have increased in recent months, thanks to persisting gold shortage in the domestic market. Most of the gold smuggling foiled by the police was carried out through the Tatopani customs.
This prompted the CIAA and revenue officials to increase scrutiny at the customs point and inspect containers heading to Kathmandu from the customs point.
In the latest case of gold smuggling, the Central Bureau of Investigation of Nepal Police had seized 35 kg of gold from a container that came to Kathmandu from Tatopani two months ago. Similarly, Kavre police had taken under control 9 kg of cold from a Kathmandu-bound container at Dhulikhel nine months ago.
Over the past year, police have seized 65 kg of gold form Kathmandu and other parts of the country. About six months ago, the DRI had recovered around Rs 10 million as revenue dues and penalty from different traders after taking 22 containers under control in suspicion of revenue evasion.
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