One arrested with four kg gold

KATHMANDU, July 17

Police arrested an Indian national in possession of 4 kg undeclared gold from customs at Tribhuvan International Airport on Friday.

Ram Niwas Verma, 57, bearing passport no 82529595, who arrived in Kathmandu from Sharjah on an Air Arabia flight, was trying to evade the customs in the morning when officials detained him.

According to police, he had concealed the hallmark gold in his undergarment. Police have confiscated four gold bars — one kg each — from Verma. He has been kept in police custody for further investigation.

Smuggling of gold into Nepal from China via Tatopani border of Sindhupalchowk and TIA is on the rise these days.

The government imposes a customs duty of Rs 5,200 per 10 grams of gold while selling it to the jewellers through commercial banks.

According to statistics mainatined by police, 68.41 kg gold had been recovered in the fiscal year 2012-13. Similarly, 66.57 kg undeclared gold eas seized in 2013-14 and more than 80 kg in 2014-15.

All the seized gold was smuggled into Nepal either via Tatopani border or air route, which smugglers of late have been considering ‘safest routes’ to smuggle the precious yellow metal.