KATHMANDU, AUGUST 04
The government is set to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation of Nepal Police to investigate the 100-kg gold smuggling racket from the angle of organised crime due to the alleged involvement of racketeers in multiple layers.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal directed the CIB to carry out further investigations as it is a specialised body of the police force for investigating transnational organised crime. According to government sources, PM Dahal directed the authorities to carry out further investigation through the CIB after a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha, Defence Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel, Inspector General of Police Basant Bahadur Kunwar, CIB Chief Kiran Bajracharya and Director General of Department of Revenue Investigation Nawa Raj Dhungana yesterday.
Though the Department of Revenue Investigation has already launched an inquiry focusing on customs evasion and revenue leakage committed by the racketeers during the passage of 100-kg gold through Tribhuvan International Airport on July 19, the need for further investigation from the angle of organised crime was realised lately on the basis of suggestions and feedback received from various political parties and security experts.
Attorney General Pokharel, who participated in the meeting with the prime minister, said PM Dahal was in favour of an investigation through the CIB due to the involvement of transnational smuggling racket in the 100-kg gold smuggling case after being briefed about the various legal aspects of the investigation. "Since revenue leakage was noticed after the recovery of the smuggled gold, the Department of Revenue Investigation is now conducting a thorough investigation. But the investigation showed that the scam involved organised crime," said AG Pokharel, adding, "Therefore, according to the legal system, it was concluded that the CIB should proceed with further investigation from the angle of organised crime."
"It is doubtful whether gold has been used as a mode of payment for anything. Since there is the speculation of hundi and other illegal activities, there will be a comprehensive investigation into them," said CIB Chief Kiran Bajracharya.
The investigation into the crime of revenue evasion will continue through the Department of Revenue Investigation while the CIB will carry out major investigation into organised crime in the gold smuggling racket. The gold was seized from a cab on the premises of the Customs Office at Tribhuvan International Airport. The racketeers had managed to pass the 100-kg precious yellow metal undetected through the TIA. The smuggled gold brought from Hong Kong was concealed in the consignment of motorcycle brake shoes with gross weight of 155 kg. The gold was sent to the Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank to weigh it officially. It was the single-biggest haul of illegal gold being smuggled in Nepal. Police have already arrested over a dozen suspects, including Chinese, Indian and Belgian nationals, in connection with the gold smuggling racket.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 5, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
