KATHMANDU, Dec 23: Police have arrested a travel operator on the charge of assisting human smuggling by sending them abroad on 'visit visa' based on forged documents.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Rabindra Regmi at Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office said that 45-year-old Binod Karki, the owner of City Tours and Travels, who lives in Mahalaxmi Municipality-4, Imadol in Lalitpur, was charged with illegal activities.

Police seized 1,513 suspicious passports of individuals intending to travel abroad on visit visas. The seized documents included forged Grade XII certificates, fake labor approvals, fraudulent relationship verifications, police reports, and false bank details. The confiscation took place at the Tribhuvan International Airport Security Office on Monday. The arrest of the individual responsible for producing these counterfeit documents occurred on Thursday, and his identity was disclosed only today.

Upon further investigation into the practices of sending individuals abroad with counterfeit documents, travel agencies, consultants, and agents were found facilitating foreign travel. They provided airlines with amounts ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per person and offered immigration officials amounts ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 55,000 per person. 

In light of these findings, Karki was arrested from Balkhu, Kathmandu, on Monday for additional investigation and legal action, said SP Regmi, who is also the Spokesperson at Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.  

 
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