The recent gold smuggling case has captured the attention of the entire country, sparking widespread discussions.
The incident involves the illicit transportation of 100 kg of gold, which was cleverly taken out of the airport customs office by exploiting both technical loopholes and human vulnerabilities at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
As a result, not only the companies, government, and security officials involved in this illegal activity are under scrutiny, but also the secretive gangs responsible for orchestrating the entire operation are being exposed to the public eye.
Last Thursday, a Chinese citizen was apprehended at Tribhuvan International Airport immigration under suspicion related to a recent gold smuggling incident.
The arrest occurred shortly after the authorities seized 100 kg of gold. The individual in question is identified as 36-year-old Jeyung Lyn, who had been residing in Nepal for the past 7 months.
Lyn is believed to be the most prominent figure arrested thus far in connection with the one quintal gold smuggling case.
The police received a tip-off indicating that Jeyung Lyn had rented a room in Baluwatar to stash the contraband. Moreover, they obtained information suggesting that he was planning to flee to China.
Acting swiftly, the authorities monitored the airport and promptly arrested him when he attempted to board a flight to China.
In the recent one quintal gold scandal, besides the local porters, the main investors are of Chinese origin, marking the most significant incident since gold worth Rs 43 crore was seized five years ago.
The immediate action led to his apprehension at the immigration checkpoint. Further investigations are underway to uncover additional details about the smuggling network and its associates.
Following the arrest of a Chinese citizen involved in the smuggling operation, other Chinese nationals who had been running similar illegal businesses in Nepal began fleeing the country.
They enticed Nepali citizens financially, encouraging them to register business firms and operate under the guise of legitimate enterprises, all the while engaging in smuggling activities.
One of the recent gold seizures conducted by the Revenue Investigation Department last Tuesday involved nearly one quintal of gold.
The gold was traced back to a company named Ready Trade, registered under the name of a 21-year-old individual named Dilip Bhujel from Bhojpur Arun rural municipality-4.
Bhujel’s statement has also revealed the exploitation of Nepalese youth by Chinese smugglers, who take advantage of their citizenship and economic vulnerability.
Lyn, who was repeatedly involved in gold smuggling through Ready Trade, had been under police surveillance.
He attempted to escape to China once it became apparent that his arrest was imminent. Both Lyn and 53-year-old Thapten Chhiring, an Indian citizen of Tibetan origin residing in Delhi and currently in Panipokhari, Kathmandu, have been taken into police custody for their involvement in the smuggling ring.
The police have revealed shocking statistics, indicating that nearly 700 kg of illegal gold has been seized in Nepal over the past decade, with over 700 individuals involved in smuggling being arrested.
The majority of the primary culprits and absconding suspects are of Chinese nationality. Surprisingly, among those arrested, only about 100 Nepali porters involved in the illegal gold transportation have been apprehended, as they often work merely as customs agents.
The police data also highlights the significant involvement of Chinese businessmen as main investors in the smuggling business.
The gang exploits Nepalese youth, using them in both jewelry and raw gold imports under personal goods (gunta). This information sheds light on the extensive scale and complexity of the illegal gold smuggling operations in Nepal.
Unveiling the Terrifying Web of Chinese Smugglers
In Poush, 2079BS, a perplexing incident occurred at Tribhuvan International Airport during routine checks.
The customs office seized 730 pieces of vapes, packed into 73 packets, without knowing that they concealed gold.
These vapes were kept in the airport warehouse for almost four months, masquerading as tobacco products. The Chinese businessman claimed they were intended for Chinese workers and officials engaged in a hydroelectric project, and cunningly persuaded the customs staff to leave them be.
The gold hidden inside the vape-filled suitcase remained undetected, even after passing through the airport’s X-ray machine twice.
These goods were the property of a Chinese trader who had recognized technical vulnerabilities within the airport.
However, inside the customs office warehouse, the contents of the suitcase, seemingly full of ‘vapes,’ were stealthily replaced by the Chinese merchant.
A shocking revelation ensued when it was found that Rewant Khadka, a junior official at the airport customs office, had accepted a bribe of 60 crores to facilitate the smooth passage of these goods through customs.
Concealed within the suitcase was a hidden stash of 19 kg of gold, which the Chinese businessman managed to transport to the local market and successfully sell.
The investigation report compiled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) of the Nepal Police reveals that these Chinese businessmen continuously exploit the airport’s technological and manpower weaknesses.
In their operation, they also involved employees of the Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office, as well as Vice Chairman of the Maoist Center, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, and his son Rahul Mahara.
According to the report presented to the public prosecutor’s office, the Maharas persistently contacted customs department staff, exerting pressure on them to auction the e-cigarettes stored in the customs office.
This shocking case exposes the intricate network of Chinese smugglers and their manipulation of airport officials and politicians to carry out their illegal activities undetected.
It underscores the urgent need to bolster security measures and enhance vigilance at the airport to curb such audacious smuggling attempts.
Mahara’s father and son, along with the Chinese national responsible for importing the gold, are currently under intense police surveillance.
The police have discovered that the customs office mechanism and the network of Chinese smugglers, which were established during the tenure of former speaker Mahara as the home minister, are still operational.
To dismantle this intricate web of illegal activities, Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha is actively seeking to increase police presence and collaborate with customs and revenue investigation officials at the airport.
In a previous incident involving the smuggling of 88 kg of gold through the Rasuwagadhi border crossing in 2074BS, the main suspects managed to evade the police.
The Kathmandu District Court imposed a fine on the Chinese couple, Yang Wen Wing and her husband Pan Wei Ming, but aside from the driver Manoj Adhikari, no other individuals have been apprehended. Chinese citizen Zhang Haling, who was arrested during the investigation, was swiftly released on bail.
While a specialized team, including technicians from the Metropolitan Crime Division, was tracking the mobile phones of the Chinese couple involved in the smuggling, the signal of Yang Wen Wing and Pan Wei Ming’s Nepali mobile phone ceased in the vicinity of Baluwatar near Hotel Radisson in Lazimpat.
Subsequently, the mobile phone with that SIM card was never reactivated, and the couple vanished after reaching the area surrounding the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.
The police have yet to locate them, but they remain relentless in their efforts to find Yang and Pan, who own the Kathmandu Forest Hotel in Thamel and are connected to the smuggling of 88 kg of gold.
The police investigation has revealed that Chinese traders bring gold from China to Nepal and store it in Kathmandu before selling it to Indian traders and also in the local market.
This clandestine operation highlights the need for rigorous efforts to combat cross-border smuggling activities and maintain the security and integrity of Nepal’s economic systems.
Chinese criminal activity in Nepal has seen a steady rise since 2050, initially entering the construction sector and later venturing into gold smuggling.
Chinese businessmen have found willing partners among Nepalese businessmen to aid them in their smuggling operations, particularly when it comes to smuggling gold into India.
Their network, operating under the facade of hotels and restaurants, has become a source of terror. Indian and Nepalese businessmen have also been recruited as porters to facilitate the Chinese smugglers’ illegal activities.
In the recent one quintal gold scandal, besides the local porters, the main investors are of Chinese origin, marking the most significant incident since gold worth Rs 43 crore was seized five years ago.
The Chinese smugglers have managed to gain access to high-level political leaders in Nepal by offering economic incentives.
Their involvement in illegal trades under the guise of various businesses, including hotels and restaurants, has become a matter of concern for the Nepalese police administration.
Initially, they forged connections with Nepali political parties, leaders, and the police administration during large-scale smuggling of Red Sandalwood from Nepal.
However, this same group gradually expanded their interests to include the smuggling of dollars, gold, wildlife parts, herbs, and other lucrative ventures, with gold smuggling taking precedence.
Despite the distinct nature of their smuggling activities, Chinese smugglers are relentlessly working to establish criminal networks in Nepal. Investigations conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB), the Metropolitan Police Crime Branch, and the Special Bureau of the Police have revealed that this network has even reached the upper echelons of Nepal’s political leadership.
An impartial investigation into the current smuggling case could potentially expose the involvement of several other leaders and administrators, similar to Krishna Bahadur Mahara, in such illicit business dealings.
The situation calls for stringent measures to curb such criminal activities and safeguard the integrity of Nepal’s economic and political landscape.
The recent arrest of individuals involved in smuggling 100 kilos of gold has disrupted this gang’s operations. These Chinese smuggling groups have been found to have connections with leaders of the Maoist Center, making the situation more complex.
Chinese criminal activity in Nepal has seen a steady rise since 2050, initially entering the construction sector and later venturing into gold smuggling.
Over time, they have been bringing gold from China and selling it in Kathmandu, earning dollars from the proceeds. The Chinese smugglers involved in dollar trafficking exploit both security-sensitive areas, such as airports, and ground routes, similar to their gold smuggling operations.
The police have been actively combating these criminal activities, making notable arrests in the past. For instance, in 2072BS, they apprehended Chinese citizen Yi Wang at Tribhuvan International Airport while he was attempting to fly to China with $60,000 hidden in a cigarette case.
The route used for smuggling changed after Yi Wang’s arrest, and other Chinese nationals were caught trying to smuggle dollars collected from gold sales after counterfeiting Thamel’s money exchange.
During the time when Tatopani Customs was closed due to an earthquake, Chinese smugglers shifted to the Kerung route and Tribhuvan International Airport.
The police successfully seized a substantial amount of foreign currency, including US dollars, Euros, Chinese Yuan, Japanese Yen, Swiss Francs, Australian Dollars, Pounds Sterling, and Nepalese Rupees, from various Chinese citizens engaged in gold smuggling.
The Chinese smugglers demonstrate adaptability by using different routes depending on the security checks in place.
When ground routes face increased scrutiny, they switch to air routes and vice versa. The police have made significant arrests, including three Chinese nationals caught hiding gold in their anus at Tribhuvan International Airport and the arrest of a 23-year-old Chinese national with four kg of gold after disembarking from Hong Kong.
By intensifying their vigilance, they hope to disrupt and dismantle these illicit networks, ensuring the safety and security of the region while protecting valuable natural resources and cultural heritage.
Over the last decade, a large Chinese gang has actively smuggled gold from China to the Indian market through Kathmandu.
The recent arrest of individuals involved in smuggling 100 kilos of gold has disrupted this gang’s operations. These Chinese smuggling groups have been found to have connections with leaders of the Maoist Center, making the situation more complex.
Efforts to curb such illegal activities and dismantle the smuggling networks require persistent and collaborative actions from the authorities to maintain the integrity of Nepal’s financial and security systems.
The police report indicates that Chinese criminal activities primarily revolve around illegal gold, foreign currency smuggling, and the trafficking of precious herbs found in the Himalayas.
Additionally, they are involved in smuggling wild animal parts, sought after for traditional medicine in Chinese society, and chiru fur, used in shawl-making. What’s concerning is the increasing number of Chinese tourists and tourism professionals joining these crime networks in Nepal.
To address this growing issue, the police have heightened their surveillance in key areas known to be frequented by Chinese traffickers. These areas include Thamel, Bauddha, Mahabauddha, Swayambhu, Baluwatar, and other regions within the valley.
The concerted efforts of the police aim to curtail the illegal activities of Chinese criminals operating within Nepal’s borders.
By intensifying their vigilance, they hope to disrupt and dismantle these illicit networks, ensuring the safety and security of the region while protecting valuable natural resources and cultural heritage.
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