KATHMANDU: An Indian national has been arrested for smuggling 24 tolas of gold jewelry from India to Nepal and Rs 6,50,000 hundi amount.

The Armed Police Border Outpost (BOP) Rani arrested an Indian national from Biratnagar-17 Islampur.

Arrestee was Deepak Bhagat, 25, of Jogwani Nagar Panchayat-13 in Araria district of India. According to Police Inspector Mausam Pokharel of BOP Rani, he was arrested with 24 tola gold jewelry and Rs 6,50,000 in cash.

He had entered Nepal on Thursday evening by taking advantage of the open border even though the Nepal-India border is currently sealed.

During the check, the Armed Police Force (APF) team arrested the suspects while they were hiding in the gold in various parts of the body, shoes, socks and underwear.

Police suspect that the arrested Bhagat was only a porter to smuggle illegal gold and hundi money.

The Armed Police Force has handed over Bhagat to the Area Police Rani for necessary investigation. The Biratnagar Customs Office is preparing to impose a fine.

Chief of the customs office Shiva Bhandari said that the accused Bhagat would be released for trial if he paid the fine as per the law. According to him, the customs has started taking statements from Bhagat.

Illegal traders smuggle gold to India by making it into an attractive jewelry and re-import it to Nepal. Similarly, silver jewelry is also smuggled from India.

Even though the Nepal-India border has been sealed to prevent the Coronavirus epidemic, illegal traders have been taking advantage of the open border to carry out various smuggling activities.