KATHMANDU: The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police on Friday raided the Thamel-based Kubeyra Mahal Hotel and arrested Doma Chheten Tamang, its owner, with undeclared local and foreign currencies worth over Rs 6.1 million and a huge cache of Buddha Chitta Malas.

A special team of CIB had carried out the raid in room no 201 and 206 of the hotel, acting on intelligence inputs that Tamang, 45, of Limi-6, Humla, was allegedly operating a smuggling racket. Police have confiscated Chinese Yuan 280,551, INR 151,895, Bhutanese Ngultrum 15,390, US Dollar 119, Thai Baht 100 and Rs 1.34 million, and bank cheques and a currency-counting machines from him.

SP Shyam Lal Gyawali said police have also recovered 235 pieces of Buddha Chitta Malas in three different sizes which officials said sell at Rs 363,500. According to the CIB, Tamanag is suspected to have collected the cash by smuggling the prayer beads abroad. He has not obtained licence from the competent authorities to trade in Buddha Chitta Malas, which are harvested from Buddha Chitta, a holy tree.

It is used by Buddhists while praying and meditation and is worn around neck or wrist. Buddhist prayer beads are a customary tool used to count the number of times mantra (Buddha quotes) is recited whilst meditating and remembering the life of Buddha.

Tamang has been handed over to Inland Revenue Department for further investigation. The seized prayer beads will be submitted to Kathmandu District Forest Office, police said.