KATHMANDU, April 23: Former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police Govinda Niroula has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the smuggling of 33 kilograms of gold through the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) last year. Niroula was police chief at TIA when the incident happened. 

According to a source at the Ministry of Home Affairs, a probe committee formed by the ministry to investigate the smuggling arrested Niroula on Sunday. He had retired from Nepal Police ten days ago. 

“Since the smuggling took place while he was the police chief at TIA, the probe committee found his link with the smuggling. So, he was detained on Sunday on the committee's order,” the source told Republica. 
 
In August, 2017, police had arrested Rajan Prasad Pant, the main accused in the smuggling case. Pant was nabbed from TIA while returning from Dubai. Over 20 individuals have already been arrested in connection with one of the biggest gold smuggling cases that was exposed last year.

 
• former
 
• dig
 
• niroula
 
• arrested