KATHMANDU: Concerns have escalated in Nepal’s security sector as criminal activities persist unabated along the border, shielded by political factions and the government.

Experts shed light on the rampant smuggling operations, stretching from gold to betel nuts, allegedly thriving under the protection of political leaders.

Former DIG Hemanta Malla, addressing a program on “Economic Diplomacy and Border Security” organized by the Institute for Strategic and Socio-Economic Research (ISSR) and Khabarhub at the Pavillion Hall in Kathmandu, emphasized the issue of political patronage hampering effective crime control.

He highlighted the pervasive influx of gold through various means, underscoring that recent discussions on the matter merely scratch the surface of an enduring predicament.

Raising eyebrows, former DIG Malla pointed out the complicity of government agencies in the gold smuggling network, questioning the failure to intercept gold at the border despite the presence of multiple security layers.

He alleged that interest groups are colluding to intercept gold shipments passing through checkpoints.

Malla dubbed the southern border as a hotspot for smugglers, citing the burgeoning trade of betel nut and pepper as further evidence.

Furthermore, Malla revealed the involvement of prominent business figures in clandestine imports of banned commodities, with the recent influx of illicit chicken imports dealing a severe blow to Nepal’s domestic poultry industry.

The unauthorized influx of foreign poultry products, facilitated through border crossings with India, has decimated self-sufficient local producers, sparking outrage within the affected communities.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dhiraj Pratap Singh echoed concerns about the lax enforcement of the law, highlighting the challenges in controlling economic and criminal activities along Nepal’s border regions.

Singh underscored the adequacy of existing legal frameworks but lamented the lackluster implementation, leading to rampant cases of revenue evasion, which the government has failed to address adequately.

Former administrator Rabindra Nath Regmi expressed dismay over the inefficiencies in revenue collection, citing weak management as a significant obstacle.

He pointed fingers at the adverse impacts of India’s prohibition on specific goods, which have hampered Nepal’s revenue targets.

Regmi condemned government agencies for terrorizing Nepali farmers and undermining the self-reliance of the local industry.

He revealed that nearly 40 percent of hatcheries had ceased operations due to the unauthorized influx of Indian chickens, facilitated with the connivance of state authorities.

ISSR Director Naresh Shrestha emphasized the detrimental effects of misguided government policies, compelling businesses to resort to illicit means.

Shrestha highlighted the consequences of policy-making without robust implementation, exacerbating challenges within the economic landscape.