KATHMANDU: The Department of Customs on Friday launched a probe into how three persons could evade the customs duty to take their 33 kg undeclared gold out of the Tribhuvan International Airport yesterday.

In one of the biggest hauls of hallmark gold, the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police had arrested three persons with 33 kg undeclared precious yellow metal from Pinglasthan, near the TIA, in Kathmandu on Thursday.

The Department's Deputy Director General Suman Dahal heads the five-member committee, according to the TIA Customs Office Chief Narayan Sapkota.

Customs officials Kul Raj Gyawali, Tanka Pandey, Punya Bikram Khadka and Shreelal Paudel are members of the committee.

The team has been assigned to submit its report within next 10 days.

Meanwhile, 29 customs officials who were on duty yesterday were suspended till the conclusion of the investigation.