KATHMANDU: The District Police Office, Lalitpur, has arrested five people on charges of involvement in illegal gold trading.

The police raided an under-construction house in Mahalaxmisthan on July 4, where suspicious activities were observed, leading to the arrests.

During the raid, authorities seized a gold smelting machine, a digital device, and cash amounting to Rs 5,400,000.

Among the arrested are three Indian nationals and two Nepali people.

According to a police statement, the third floor of the raided house was rented by Yuvraj Vibhute from Maharashtra, India.

The arrestees include 28-year-old Yuvraj Vibhute, 20-year-old Vikram Yalvar, and 18-year-old Abhishesh Vibhute from India.

Additionally, Siddhant Chaulagain from Bhaktapur and Yaswant Sunar from Lalitpur were also taken into custody.

The police have also recovered checkbooks and bank deposit slips.

Given the discovery of the gold smelting machine, the authorities suspect that this group was involved in organized illegal gold trading.