Traders from various parts of country have been illegally importing firecrackers from India in view of upcoming Dashain and Tihar festivals despite a government ban.

A surprise inspection carried out by Armed Police Force (APF) of Sanischare Base Camp recovered two sacks of illegally brought firecrackers worth Rs 30,000 from a dickey of a passenger bus in Charali, Jhapa.

According to a source, traders along the bordering towns begin hauling firecrackers before Dashain festival while the police tighten the inspection only ahead of Tihar festival.

Every year, firecrackers worth millions of rupees are smuggled from Kakkadvitta along with Bahundangi, Bhadrapur, Kechana, Kumarkhod, Gauriganj among other border points.

In the prior years, personnel from the security forces were found colluding with the traders in the smuggling of contraband crackers.

However, a trader, talking to the Post, informed that the security forces have opted for strict measures to stop the illegal import of firecrackers this year.

Meanwhile, security agencies have informed that they have stepped up inspection at every border points so as to check the illegal import of the firecrackers.

Jhapa Police Chief SP Bishnu Kumar KC claimed that they have tightened the inspection and security agencies on the other side of the border have also put in place strict measures to stop trade making it difficult for traders to buy and smuggle firecrackers.