Two Indian nationals arrested with gold in Kanchanpur

DHANGADHI: Kanchanpur Customs Office has arrested two Indian nationals with approximately half a kilogram of gold from the western border point, on Wednesday morning.

The arrestees have been identified as Jitendra Sainik and Suresh Kumar of Haryana in India.

The gold was being smuggled on a jeep with an Indian number plate (HR 12 AF 006), according to preliminary police investigations. The arrestees were intercepted, based on a special tip-off, during a check at Gaddachauki in Bhimdatta Municipality-10 of the district while they were on their way to India. The customs office confiscated half a kilogram of gold without label kept inside a bag from the jeep.

Chief at the customs office in Gaddachauki, Madan Dahal, informed that the market price of the seized gold was around Rs 2.5 million.

The jeep that was used for the crime belongs to another Indian national Shyam Lal from Hariyana itself. The vehicle had crossed the customs point into the Nepali territory on May 14 and had returned one day prior to the expiration of its permit.

Dahal said, as the investigation is in its preliminary stage, it would be difficult to ascertain who the gold belonged to or where it was brought from, however, he assumes that it could have been brought from Kathmandu. "We are investigating whether it is the work of an organised smuggling group or some businessmen," he stated adding that legal action would be taken against the accused after further investigation.

The arrestees will be charged under the Customs Act, 2064.

Meanwhile, the customs office had called a mechanic to dismantle the parts of the vehicle for further checking.