KATHMANDU, JULY 21
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha today said the government would investigate the gold scam and get to the root of its nexus to bring the guilty to book. It was the single-biggest haul of illegal gold smuggling in Nepal.
During his visit to the Customs Office of Tribhuvan In-ternational Airport to take stock of the security situation there three days after the confiscation of around 100 kilograms (as reported earlier) of the precious yellow metal that passed undetected through the TIA, DPM Shrestha informed that the government was preparing to come up with a plan to prevent gold smuggling in the country in the future.
The gold was seized from a cab on the premises of the Customs Office later. The gold smuggled from Hong Kong was concealed in the consignment of motorcycle brake shoes. The gross weight of the consignment is 155 kilograms.
The gold has been sent to the Mint Division under Nepal Rastra Bank to weigh it.
Authorities informed that the gold bars would be weighed by detaching them from the brake shoes.
Responding to a query raised by mediapersons upon inspection of the Customs Office, DPM Shrestha said the entire nexus of the gold scam would be investigated and truth would be revealed accordingly.
He said action would be taken against the smugglers and their accomplices under the prevailing laws. "A wide-ranging investigation needs to be conducted so as to reach its root and mete out stringent punishment to the perpetrators. No matter who they are, we will proceed with investigation into the smuggling to reach its nexus and gangs," he said.
Stating that investigation had already started, DPM Shrestha expressed belief that other relevant agencies of the state would also cooperate with the government to lead it to a logical end.
"The roots of corruption are deeply embedded at the highest political level. No matter which political party they belong to, they will not get immunity.
I don't care about any person or political party while investigating matters related to corruption or crime," he claimed.
Nepal Police has so far arrested nine persons, including a Chinese national, for their alleged involvement in the gold smuggling scam.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 22, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
