KATHMANDU, JULY 8 The Armed Police Force (APF) has seized illegally traded goods worth more than Rs 12.4 million in two separate operations in Sarlahi as part of its ongoing crackdown on cross-border smuggling. According to the Nepal Border Security Battalion in Malangawa, an APF team intercepted a pickup truck at the customs checkpoint in Malangawa Municipality-2 on July 5 while it was allegedly transporting timber and other goods illegally to India. The operation led to the seizure of 22 pieces of timber measuring 100 cubic feet worth around Rs 170,000, a box bed set valued at Rs 60,000 and the pickup vehicle worth Rs 500,000. The total value of the seized items was estimated at Rs 730,000. Police detained the driver, 35-year-old Dor Bahadur Upreti of Gorkha, and Mukesh Sharma, 28, of Sitamarhi district in Bihar, India, for further investigation.

In a separate operation the same afternoon, a joint team comprising APF personnel, officials from the Sarlahi Customs Office and the District Administration Office raided a clothing store in Haripurwa Municipality-3 following a tip-off. The team recovered illegally imported garments worth Rs 9.72 million allegedly brought into the country by evading customs duties. The seized goods have been handed over to the Malangawa Customs Office for further legal action. APF officials said tighter coordination among security agencies and stakeholders is needed to curb persistent cross-border smuggling despite heightened border surveillance.