Dhangadi, November 19

As the country faces shortage of fuel, medicine, food items among other essentials, smuggling for different items across the Nepal-India border points has increased.

Taking advantage of the open border, smugglers have been involved in trading in all sorts of goods brought from Indian markets. They have been smuggling food items, petroleum products and ironware by evading the Chhoti Customs Office at Prithivipur of Bhajani-Trishakti Municipality.

To prevent such illegal activities at the border points, police and Armed Police Force posts have been established in the areas. But items brought by evading customs have entered the country through Patthaghat, Kauwakhedaghat, Kusumghat and Jas Bahadur Ghat, among other places.

It is said that electronic materials, cement, clothes, cooking oil, vehicle parts, and sugar have entered from Patthaghat, Kauwakhedaghat, Kusumghat and Jas Bahadur Ghat. Smuggling and black marketing have increased at the border points after Indian Border Security Force banned the supply of goods. Smugglers carry jerry cans containing fuel at night and they also bring in other materials.

They have sold materials at higher prices on the highway markets. Farmers complained that they were compelled to buy chemical fertilisers at high prices. They said that smuggling has been taking place though APF and Area Police offices were established to prevent illegal activities. The people in border areas said smugglers have been involved in smuggling openly even though APF and Nepali Police Personnel were patrolling the areas.

Meanwhile, Chief Juddharaj Joshi of Prithivipur Chhoti Customs Office said revenue collection has decreased as smuggling has not been controlled due to the open border.

In-charge Ganesh Bhatta of APF Border Security Post, Bhajani, said chemical fertiliser has entered but the other items had not entered legally.