Kathmandu, July 15

The government today deported Chinese national Ye Jinshan on the charge of gold smuggling. A decision to this effect was taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs Secretary Prem Rai on Friday, and the Department of Immigration deported Ye from Tribhuvan International Airport today. According to the department, Ye paid a penalty of

Rs 2,900,000 to the Department of Revenue Investigation and Rs 43,000 to the Department of Immigration for 40-day overstay. Ye was arrested three months ago with 600 grams gold. He had come to Nepal for the second time.

As per Nepal’s laws, Ye cannot enter Nepal for two years till July 12, 2020. Chinese nationals have been deported earlier too in different cases. The government has tightened security and intensified deportation of foreigners staying illegally or getting involved in illicit activities in Nepal. Smugglers have been using Nepal as transit for smuggling gold from China to other countries, especially India. Nepalis are also involved in smuggling gold. The government is carrying out an investigation into a gold smuggling case involving 33.5 kg of the precious yellow metal. Some of the smugglers have even been arrested, while others are at large.

According to home ministry sources, there is a connection among smugglers, security officers, political leaders and bureaucrats. “We are investigating from our side,” said the ministry source.

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