KATHMANDU, Sept 6: The network of gold smuggling revolves around the leaders and activists of the ruling CPN (Maoist Center). The Maoist Center is the second largest party in the ruling alliance. The party’s Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is leading the government.

Informed sources told Republica that the smuggling network is linked with Maoist leaders and workers. They say this has made the investigation difficult.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, which has been investigating a couple of recent gold smuggling cases, is investigating the contacts numbers of more than 60 Maoist leaders and activists.

Meanwhile, the administrators of social media networks such as WeChat, WhatsApp, which have been used for gold smuggling, have refused to divulge the details of the conversation between Maoist leaders and cadres and the alleged smugglers.

The network that recently smuggled in 60 kg and 9 kg of gold through the Tribhuvan International Airport is clearly linked with the Maoist leaders and activists. In July, 60 kg of smuggled gold was recovered from Sinamangal after it had passed the customs clearance of the Tribhuvan International Airport. Similarly, nine kilograms of gold confiscated by the airport customs office in December last year was lost from the customs. The nine kilos of smuggled gold was concealed in e-cigarettes imported from abroad. In both these cases, the leaders and workers of the Maoist Center allegedly involved.  

CIB of Nepal Police is investigating the gold smuggling cases. CIB is investigating gold smuggling under organized crime and international crime. During the investigation, the traffickers were found to be in close contact with top Maoist leaders, their sons, relatives and party workers. According to a CIB source, nine kilos of gold that vanished from the airport customs office and the gold that passed the airport customs check belonged to the same group of smugglers. It has also been found that the group of smugglers used Maoist leaders and activists in gold smuggling.

“This network has been active for a long time but nobody knows precisely for how long. During the election, there seems to be more contact between them. It seems that a lot of smuggled gold is brought when everyone's attention is focused on the election,” said a CIB source, “It seems that some Maoist leaders-activists are in contact with Chinese gold smugglers who have either been arrested or are yet to be arrested.”

The CIB is taking statements from those who are in contact with the smugglers. The CIB recently took the statement of former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun's son Dipesh for three hours. Former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara's son Rahul is in CIB custody. He has also been questioned by the investigating officers.

The investigating officers have questioned Rahul about his contact and relationship with Daojin Wang, who is involved in gold smuggling but is currently in the Kerung area of Tibet. The Chinese nationals in CIB custody have also taken the names of top Maoist leaders. Belgian citizen Dawa Tsering has also been linked to the gold smuggling case.

There are reports that Tsering worked in collaboration with the Maoist leaders of Rolpa. The CIB is also investigating whether he was in contact with the central leaders of the Maoist Center.  

The CIB has collected the phone contacts and details of more than 60 Maoist leaders and activists. According to sources, Kishor Basnet, who was arrested as the main aide of Tsering, was found to be in contact with Maoist leaders.

CIB Chief AIG Kiran Bajracharya claimed that the police are not accusing any particular party but simply interrogating and taking statements from everyone who appears to be under suspicion.

“If the arrested person needs to be detained, permission will be taken from the court,” she said. She confirmed that Dipesh Pun was interrogated as he was in contact with Tsering.

 
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