A police team deployed from Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police have seized 15 kg gold out of 22 kg that was smuggled from China and arrested seven persons in connection with the smuggling.

Organising a press conference in the Capital on Thursday, police said that 14 kg gold was seized from Tokha of the Capital and one kg from Janakpur on Wednesday.

Police said that they are searching for the remaining seven kg gold that was smuggled to Kathmandu from China via Rasuwa.

The suspects have been identified as Pemba Sherpa of Tokha, Dipendra Thapa of Suryabinayak, Rajendra Khatri, Rabin Khatri, Saroj Thapa of Baneshwor, Bishnu Gautam of Panchkhal, Kavre and Deepak Kumar Sah of Janakpur, Dhanusha.

Among the 22 kg gold, eight kg precious metal was purchased by Dipendra Thapa and Saroj Thapa of Kathmandu.

Police have suspected that of the eight kg gold, the duo might have sold two kg gold in Kathmandu and the remaining gold might have been smuggled to India.

Police said that a vehicle (10 Cha 4113), a scooter, USD 600 and 1,199 Yuan were confiscated from their possession.

Police said the suspects would be taken into seven-day custody for further investigation under the Organised Crime Act.

Earlier on January 5, police had seized 33 kg yellow metal from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) that had passed undetected through the airport customs.