RAUTAHAT: Smuggling of goods across the Indo-Nepal border has increased in the district with beginning of the protests in the Tarai region against the draft constitution.

Police in Rautahat and its neighbouring district, of late, have been confiscating various smuggled goods from the border points.

Police said the smuggling and tax evasion cases are on the rise as most security personnel have been mobilised for controlling protests.

On Wednesday night, the Chandranigahapur Police Post seized illegal clothes worth Rs 570,900.

They were being taken to the Capital, police said.

Police had found the fabrics on a truck (Na 5 Kha 4370) heading to Kathmandu from Solti of Sarlahi district. The truck apparently had evaded customs duty imposed on the import.

Police said they have frequently arrested people with illegal food items and steels after protests began in the Tarai region.

DSP Manoj Yadav said police also found fake bills from the truck.

The seized materials have been handed over to the Customs Office for further investigation.