Authorities have confiscated over 118 kilograms of gold from Tatopani border point in Sindhupalchok in the past six years that people tried to smuggle into Nepal.

Police seized a total of 118 kilos and 11 tola (1 tola is equivalent to 11.66 grams) and 93 lal (100 lal is equivalent to one tola) from Tatopani border crossing along the Nepal-China border in Sindhupalchok in the past six years, the Rastriya Samachar Samiti reported on Monday, citing security agencies. Police handed over the contraband to the Tatopani Customs Office and to the Department of Revenue Investigation.

Before the 2015 April earthquake, Tatopani, the major trading point between Nepal and China, was largely used for gold smuggling, police investigation reports show. A group of gold smugglers was active in the district until the route was in operation before it was closed following the earthquake.

Smugglers use Tatopani as a transit route to sneak in gold from China to third countries. Smugglers carry out these criminal activities with the connivance of Nepali and Chinese citizens.  The smugglers hoodwink border officials by ferrying the contraband using vegetable sacks, bus tyres and other packages.

District Police Office SP Mohan Prasad Pokhrel said, “Our officers seized the largest consignment of gold contraband in the year 2071 from Tatopani in the last six years.”

During that raid the police team arrested 11 people transporting gold contraband weighing 65 kilos six tola and 29 lal.

Following the closure of this route following the quake, smugglers reportedly use alternative routes to pass the contraband.