Four arrested at TIA with nearly four kg of gold hidden in anus

KATHMANDU: Police have arrested four individuals with approximately four kilograms of illegal gold at Tribhuvan International Airport.

Among those detained is an Uzbek national who arrived in Nepal on a Fly Dubai flight at 9 pm on Wednesday. Authorities discovered 3.745 kilograms of gold hidden in the individual’s anus, according to the police report.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Akhmad Janovna Dilfuza Marifaliyev, Izrailovna Saodat Fejiva, Gulamdjanovna Umid Akhmedov, and Sardor Trusanov.

The group was taken into custody after arousing suspicion despite successfully passing through customs inspection.

Following a video X-ray examination, police discovered that three of the women had concealed gold in their anuses. Airport Security Chief SSP Somendrasingh Rathore confirmed that the women had molded the gold into small lumps to avoid detection.

No contraband was found on the man, but police suspect that he orchestrated the operation, using the women as couriers to smuggle the gold.

Initial investigations suggest that the gold belonged to Trusanov, who allegedly lured the women with financial incentives to transport the gold.

Authorities believe the group intended to smuggle the gold to other countries via the Indian route. All suspects are being handed over to the airport customs office for further investigation.

This incident marks the first significant gold seizure since around 65 kilograms of gold, hidden in brake pads, was confiscated in 2023.