KATHMANDU: A corruption case has been filed against former Speaker and Nepali Communist Party (NCP) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Joint Secretary Arun Pokharel, and others for allegedly smuggling gold concealed in electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vapes).
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) lodged the case on Thursday against Mahara, Pokharel, and Mahara’s son Rahul Mahara, among others, accusing them of collaborating with Chinese smugglers to illegally transport gold hidden in e-cigarette packaging. The court has imposed a fine of around Rs 70 million.
According to the charge sheet, Mahara and his associates were involved in smuggling gold brought by a Chinese gang in December 2022, using e-cigarette packaging as a cover. The case traces back to an incident on December 25, 2022, when a Chinese gang transported gold from Dubai disguised as e-cigarettes.
The shipment, consisting of 73 boxes containing 730 vape pens, arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport and was intended to pass through customs undetected. Investigations later revealed that the gold weighed approximately nine kilograms, but the matter became more complicated when the gold went missing while in custody.
A Chinese national, Li Hansong (passport EJ 6350030), arrived in Kathmandu from Dubai on flight FZ 0587 carrying the 73 boxes of vape pens concealed in two suitcases. Hansong was reportedly supposed to hand over the gold to gang leader Wang, who had connections with former Speaker Mahara.
However, customs officials seized the shipment the same day after identifying it as suspicious, and Hansong fled a few days later. Wang allegedly sought the assistance of Mahara and his son Rahul to release the confiscated gold.
During this period, Mahara and his son reportedly made 256 contacts with various individuals, including customs officials and Chinese associates, to facilitate the release.
Comment