KATHMANDU: Police on Sunday filed a case against 12 persons arrested on the charge of gold smuggling through the Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu, seeking actions against them under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 2013.

Organising a press conference today, the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police informed that the case was registered today at the Kathmandu District Court.

Other 18 persons suspected to be involved in the smuggling of 33.5 kg gold that was seized on January 5 were still at large. As many as 10 of them are currently in the United Arab Emirates, police investigations revealed.

Police are preparing to arrest and extradite to Nepal, the CIB Chief, DIG Nawa Raj Silwal informed at the press conference.

Those indicted today include a senior Nepal Police Official, four TIA Customs Office staff, three alleged smugglers and four jewellers.

SSP Shyam Bahadur Khatri who was posted at the TIA Police Office during the time of the incident had been arrested for investigation a month after the seizure.

Likewise, officials and staff of the TIA Customs Office—Narayan Yadav (Data Officer), Raj Kumar Dhakal (X-Ray Machine Technician), Shyam Krishna Shrestha Chwamu (Radio Operator) and Ram Hari Karki—have also been indicted.

They were arrested on different dates.

Gopal Bahadur Shahi (43) from Nepalgunj of Banke, Santosh Kafle (35) from Nijgadh of Bara and Dil Bandhu Thapa (35) from Pathari were arrested in possession of the huge cache of gold on January 5 from Pingalasthan, near the TIA, while Shahi was taking away the precious yellow metal hiding it in a luggage on a taxi.

Kafle and Thapa were arrested while they were coming to receive Shahi on a private car.

Four operators of the New Road-based Baibhav Laxmi Gold and Silver Palace—Rojesh Shakya, Sunil Shrestha, Sapan Shrestha and Manoj Shrestha—were arrested just last week.

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