KATHMANDU: Nepal Police’s Metropolitan Crime Control Division has arrested four persons along with the valuable ‘yarsagumba’ (caterpillar fungus) worth around Rs 8 million.

Yarsagumba weighing 1.85 kilogrammes was confiscated from them. The scientific name of yarsagumba is Cordyceps sinensis.

A team from the Division apprehended them based on information that illegal trade of yarsagumba was taking place at Samakhusi of Kathmandu.

Those arrested in this connection are 48-year-old Dundup Gurung of Gorkha currently residing in Mitranagar, Kathmandu, 50-year-old Bel Bahadur Thapa of Lamjung and presently residing in Naya Buspark, 40-year-old Krishna Pariyar of Gorkha and currently living in Baniyatar and 47-year-old Dan Bahadur GC of Pyuthan and currently residing in Tarakeshwor.

The contraband was found hidden in Gurung’s room during a police search. All the arrested have been handed to the Division Forest Office, Kathmandu for necessary action.