Gold smuggling inquiry commission starts its work

KATHMANDU: The Inquiry Commission on Controlling Illegal Import of Gold, 2023 has decided to publish public notices across the country to gather information on gold smuggling.

The first meeting of the commission held on Thursday took the decision, according to Dilliraj Acharya, chairperson of the commission.

Additionally, the commission has decided to solicit suggestions on whether existing laws should be revised to eliminate gold smuggling entirely.

Speaking at a press meet in Kathmandu, Acharya said the commission has been asked to see if there is any weakness in the investigation being carried out by the Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police.  “We won’t interfere in CIB’s investigation though,” Acharya said.

The cabinet established this commission in accordance with the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1969, on October 1 in response to opposition parties’ demands for a comprehensive investigation into gold smuggling cases. The opposition parties staged protests in parliament after the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) raided gold being smuggled into the country disguised as motorcycle parts through Tribhuvan International Airport on July 19. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) subsequently melted down the gold from these parts and measured the weight at around 60 kg.

Subsequent investigations by the Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police revealed that the same modus operandi had been employed in multiple gold smuggling instances. According to the CIB, a total of 362 kg of gold, valued at Rs 3.5 billion, was smuggled into the country through seven companies.

Furthermore, instances of smuggling of gold concealed within vapes came to light after a consignment of vapes seized by the customs office was stolen. CPN (Maoist Center) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara and his son Rahul have admitted to instructing customs officials to release the consignment. They have claimed that they were unaware that the consignment contained gold.

Joint secretaries Kishor Jung Karki and Prem Raj Joshi, and former AIG of Nepal Police Sahakul Thapa are the members of the inquiry commission.