12 involved in gold smuggling arrested, transactions of Rs 1.96 billion

KATHMANDU, July 10: The police have arrested 12 people involved in the smuggling of illegal gold from abroad. The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office has arrested 12 people, including 5 who returned from foreign employment in Qatar.

According to the police, the gold was smuggled by foreign employees from Shivasundar Raut, the owner of Siraha's Ritesh General Store. Shivasundar has been revealed to be mobilising foreign employees to smuggle gold for a long time.

Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office Chief SSP Manoj KC informed that transactions of Rs 1.96 billion have been seen in his account since 2019.

In a press conference on Monday, the Police revealed the arrest of Shivasundar Raut in Siraha. Similarly, the Police have also arrested Binod Kumar Shah, who is running the B Himalayan Spire Hotel in Sinamangal. 

According to the Police, 828 grams of gold were seized from 5 people, which are said to be smuggled through Tribhuwan International Airport in a small quantity from abroad.

Among the arrested are Dhanusha's Sunil Kumar Mahara, Naresh Pajinyar, Siraha's Dinesh Kumar Yadav, Kapilvastu's Santu Gulam Murau and Banke's Bhum Bahadur Wali.

Along with Binod, Sanju Kumari Shah, Durga Prasad Yadav and Devananda Shah were also arrested while collecting the gold.

Similarly, the police have also arrested Mohan Kumar Yadav from Siraha. He was revealed to be depositing and withdrawing money from Shivasundar Raut's account. The police are conducting further investigations regarding the case.