Two held with 5 kg hallmark gold

KATHMANDU, JAN 10: 

The Central Investigation Bureau arrested two smugglers and seized five kg Hallmark gold from a van parked in Mahabouddha yesterday night. 

A CIB team arrested two smugglers and seized a bag containing gold before one of the smugglers managed to flee. The arrested are Dirgha Bahadur Thapa, 37, of Sindhupalchowk, and Samir Barakoti, 21, of Dhading, CIB Director DIG Kesh Bahadur Shahi said. 

SP Ishwar Babu Karki said a man riding a motorcycle had arrived in Mahabouddha to pick up the gold. Police seized the motorcycle, but the motorcyclist and a smuggler escaped.

Rabi Sherpa of Sindhupalchowk and Vikki Agrawal have been identified as owners of the van and motorcycle, after CIB verified the vehicles with the Office of Transport Management.

DIG Shahi said the five kg gold was smuggled to Kathmandu from Khasa, China via Tatopani customs, dodging the authorities.

“Preliminary investigation suggests that the gold was en route to India,” he said. 

SP Karki said police have launched an investigation to arrest Agrawal and hand him over to the Department of Revenue Investigation to proceed with legal action. 

Meanwhile, a police team and DRI seized two kg gold from a stationary car in Dhulikhel, Kavre. The car was heading to Kathmandu from Tatopani of Sindhupalchowk. The culprits are at large. 

CIB said the connection between the two separate seizures of gold was being investigated.

Source: THT