KATHMANDU: Acting on intelligence regarding illegal gold smuggling, a team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Division of the Nepal Police has arrested seven people from Nepal and India.
On Friday, the police seized 1.768 kg of illegal gold from various locations in Kathmandu.
Additionally, they confiscated Rs 1,430,000 from the suspects.
The seized gold was divided into nine pieces.
The police publicly disclosed the identities of the accused during a program held in Kathmandu today.
Ganesh Badu, a 47-year-old resident of Darachula, Mahakali-3, has emerged as the prime suspect in the case.
Badu had orchestrated plans to smuggle the illegal gold into India through a border checkpoint.
Prior to this incident, Badu had already faced accusations of involvement in illegal gold smuggling.
On September 4, 2017, he was apprehended in connection with the confiscation of 88 kilograms of illegal gold from Thamel.
In addition to Badu, his 21-year-old son, Ayush Badu, was also arrested for his involvement in the illicit gold trade.
The Badus had brought the gold to Nepal from China and were about to trade it to India.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Somendra Singh Rathore, Badu’s brother-in-law, 30-year-old Dinesh Kharel, and 22-year-old Bharat Raj Kharel, from Biratamod, Jhapa, were also apprehended for their roles in the illegal gold smuggling.
SSP Rathore revealed that the suspects were conducting their transactions in Ayush’s rented room located in New Road.
Furthermore, three Indian nationals from Sangli Aatpadi, Maharashtra, namely 37-year-old Amol Vibhute, 18-year-old Rishikesh Prakash Vibhute, and another 18-year-old Ganesh Satish Walte, were arrested in connection with the same case.
The Indian nationals were caught red-handed attempting to purchase gold.
During the press conference, SSP Rathore informed that all individuals apprehended, along with the seized illegal gold and cash, have been handed over to the Revenue Investigation Department at Harihar Bhawan, Pulchowk, for further legal action on charges of tax evasion and illegal gold smuggling.
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