RAUTAHAT: Cross-border smuggling evading customs duty heavily increased in past five months across Nepal-India border thanks to the ongoing border-centric protests waged by Madhes-centric protests.

Smuggling is on the rise in various Tarai districts including Rautahat, Bara and Sarlahi.

As the concerned government authorities and security agencies centred their focus on controlling the protest programmes, black marketeers and smugglers, it seems, have been carrying out their transactions in an organised fashion.

However, the protest programmes gradually waned of late and the Armed Police Force personnel have upped scrutiny at the border areas.

Consequently, they have been arresting more people on charge of smuggling.

An APF team on Thursday night seized clothes worth more than Rs 3 million from the bank of Lal Bakaiya River.

Acting on a tip-off, the police team impounded an Indian Bolero pick-up van, APF SP Madan Singh Bista said.

Police said a local trader of Gaur, Rautahat district headquarters, Sanjay Yadav, was behind the smuggling.

SP Bista said the impounded vehicles and seized clothes were sent to the Gaur Customs Office for further investigation and action.