Himal Press 
Representative Image (Photo: Pexels)
KATHMANDU: The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Customs Office has formed a committee to study the smuggling of 14 kg of gold through TIA on Thursday evening.
The committee, led by Chief Customs Officer Maniram Poudel, includes DIG Surya Prakash Subedi, Customs Officers Prakash Nirauala and Dilli Prasad Sharma, and Section Officer Manju Thapa.
The police arrested Chandra Bahadur Ghale of Gorkha with 14 kg of gold late Thursday evening. Chandra, who arrived in Kathmandu on a FlyDubai flight, had seven biscuits weighing 2 kg each, according to the TIA Security Office. Based on information obtained from Chandra, the police also arrested Min Ghale from Dhumbarahi. The police have concluded that Chandra is only a carrier. They have launched an investigation to apprehend the owner.
On Tuesday, the police raided a jewelry shop in New Road on suspicion of trading smuggled gold. The police seized nearly 8 kg of gold from the store.
In the third week of July, the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) seized 60 kg of gold smuggled into the country via TIA by molding the yellow metal as scooter parts. Before that, the police seized 9 kg of gold smuggled into the country by concealing it in vapes.
