Gold weighing process in halt, Revenue Department yet to send letter

KATHMANDU, July 23: The illegal gold smuggled from the Tribhuwan Airport (TIA) is yet to be weighed. The gold was seized in front of the TIA Customs Office gate by the Revenue Investigation Department on the 15th of July.

Director General of the Revenue Research Department, Nabaraj Dhungana, has claimed that the illegal gold is estimated to weigh around 80 to 100 kilograms. But the smelting and weighing process of the gold has been halted as the Revenue Investigation Department is yet to send a letter.

The Revenue Investigation Department has sent the 8 bags of seized gold to the Mint Division of the Currency Management Department. The weight of the gold can only be measured after smelting according to Rastra Bank officials.

Director of the Mint Division, Thaneshwar Acharya, told Ratopati that the gold can't be smelted without receiving a letter from the Revenue Investigation Department. "Without receiving the letter, the smelting process will not proceed", he stated.

The Revenue Investigation Department has not sent a letter even after five days of seizure. When asked the reason, Director General Dhungana answered: "The letter will be sent gradually. Investigations are ongoing, letters etc. are in process."