Police seized around 2,000 litres of smuggled diesel from Mohammadpur area in Bardiya district on Sunday.

The diesel brought from India was being trafficked to Surkhet.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Netramani Giri said after the diesel was confiscated a central level leader of Sanghiya Smajbadi Forum Nepal (SSFN) had contacted police with a request to release the contraband. The leader reportedly told police that the intercepted fuel was meant for a hospital.

Police sources claimed that some SSFN leaders themselves are involved in fuel black marketeering.

Of late, fuel smuggling has increased in Bardiya. Police said black marketeers smuggle petroleum products to the district from India and supply them to different parts of the country, including Dang, Surkhet and Kathmandu. Besides supplying fuel outside the district, smugglers are also running their business locally from places like Mohammedpur, Kalika, Mainapokhar, Bholagaudi, Oralibazaar, and Kothiyaghat.

Five days ago, police had seized 300 litres of diesel, 30 litres of petrol and 40 litres of kerosene from Gulariya.

2,500 litre fuel confiscated

DHADING: Police intercepted a truck that was smuggling diesel and petrol to Kathmandu from Gajuri in Dhading district on Saturday. Police Inspector Dashu Giri said the truck (Na 3 Kha 3058) had left from Narayanghat in Chitwan to Kathmandu with 2, 500 litres of diesel and petrol.