KATHMANDU: Minister for Finance Bishnu Paudel today instructed the subordinate bodies to hold a minutely examine the catering materials used in international flights to and from Nepal.

He told the concerned authorities to curb illegal activities taking place while loading and unloading the food commodities used aboard flights.

Smuggling of weapons, gold, narcotics and fake currency notes among other crimes are suspected on the pretext of loading or unloading food materials.

Minister Paudel directed the Customs Department to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to put an end to economic crimes taking place in the international flights, Finance Ministry Secretariat said.

Finance Minister Paudel and Civil Aviation Minister Ananda Prasad Pokharel have already held discussion on this regard.

Customs Department Director General Shishir Kumar Dhungana said the Department was always alert towards controlling the possibility of such crimes in international flights.

According to him, the Customs officials have already been directed to pay special attention towards scanning of catering materials for the international flights.

Customs Department will keep record of the catering materials -- including quantity dispatched and returned -- and their state, Dhungana added.