Smuggling from Sudurpashchim Border Crossings is a Challenge

Dhangadhi. Smuggling from the border areas of Sudurpashchim Province has become a challenge for security agencies due to the open border between Nepal and India. Despite large quantities of smuggled goods being seized daily, the web of smuggling appears to be tightening rather than breaking.

While security agencies claim to have tightened security, locals are outraged, questioning the control of smuggling in light of reports of internal disputes and collusion within the security apparatus.

A representative incident that occurred a few days ago at the Trinagar border crossing in Kailali has exposed the lack of coordination between the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force.

However, the situation became tense when the woman fled and reached the nearby Trinagar Police Post. A dispute arose between the two security agencies after the Nepal Police refused to cooperate when the Armed Police requested to seize the goods.

Amidst the dispute, the Armed Police left the said goods at the police post and returned. However, it was revealed that the goods kept at the police post were returned to the concerned woman the very next day. While being taken back towards Dhangadhi Chowk, the returned goods were again seized by another checkpoint of the Armed Police.

This incident has drawn the working style of the Trinagar Police Post In-charge and Police Senior Sub-Inspector (Senior SI) Ramsingh Bohara into controversy. The return of seized goods by the police has further strengthened the allegations of businessmen that smuggling involves collusion.

According to local businessmen, smuggling has increased further after the government strictly enforced the rule that mandatory customs duty must be paid for goods worth more than one hundred rupees brought by land route.

"Collusion is more prevalent at the border than strictness," said a businessman from Dhangadhi. "It's like a drama where the police let go of goods that the armed police catch, and the armed police catch what the police let go. If a deal is made, one can easily get away from both agencies."

Ramhari Chaudhary, a local resident of Punarbas in Kanchanpur, is also concerned about the border situation.

"There is a crowd of people bringing goods illegally through the customs border. They have no fear of security personnel. Ordinary citizens are subjected to strict checks, but there is no obstruction for those involved in commercial smuggling," he said.

Regarding this matter, SP Sagar Bohara of the Sudurpashchim Province Police Office stated that the police are always committed to controlling smuggling.

"The district police office has been handed over the responsibility for the necessary investigation and process regarding that incident. The police are always doing their job honestly. Although technical or coordination problems sometimes arise, we never let those who bring illegal goods go. The process of seizing illegal goods and taking legal action is continuously ongoing," he said.

According to security personnel deployed at the border, women are mostly used in bringing smuggled goods through the borders of Kailali and Kanchanpur, evading customs. They are the ones who deliver the goods to Nepali markets and shops. The data from the Trinagar Border Security Battalion also shows a grim picture of smuggling. According to the battalion, goods worth approximately 3 million rupees that evaded customs were seized in the month of Baishakh alone.

The government's rule requiring the declaration of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for imported goods had temporarily disrupted customs clearance. This led to an increase in smuggling through unofficial routes, according to businessmen.

Although the government has now adopted some flexibility in customs clearance based on MRP declaration, the chain of smuggling has not stopped.