Police seized 15 kilograms of gold worth Rs 70 million in the wee hours of Saturday from Balaju in the Capital. The gold biscuits were hidden in the bonnet of a Tata Sumo.

The incident comes 10 days after 33 kg of precious yellow metal in the form of biscuits, rings and chains was confiscated from a person who had arrived from the UAE.

The jeep driver Rabindra Bhujel has been taken into custody, said police. 

According to police, another person who was travelling in the jeep managed to flee. 

Police believe the arrested driver could only be a mule who had driven the jeep from Kerung border point in Rasuwa district. 

The driver in his statement to police has said that he was instructed to drive to Ekantakuna in Kathmandu and hand over the vehicle’s key to a person who would contact him. 

“Investigation is underway,” said SP Pradhyumna Karki, spokesperson for Metropolitan Police Range, Teku.

Police are searching for another person who had accompanied the driver up to Thankot where he got off the car. Despite raids on Saturday, he is yet to be arrested.

Such a huge haul of gold was seized on Saturday just as police struggle to find the “real owner” of 33 kg gold that was confiscated 10 days ago. 

Over 60 kg gold has been seized by the authorities this fiscal year alone.

Security experts believe that a sudden rise in the demand of gold in India following demonetisation might have spurred gold smuggling into Nepal from China, as the smuggled gold ultimately makes it way to the southern country via Nepal. 

A government move to make people use banking channels instead of hard currency for transaction also could have resulted in gold smuggling, as those who have made huge money through illegal means tend to invest in gold. 

“People with money earned through illegal sources tend to invest either in land or gold. Since, buying land could expose them, they consider investment in gold a safe bet,” said former DIG Police Hemanta Malla Thakuri. 

Chinese nationals held with foreign currencies worth Rs 40.7 million

The Metropolitan Police Crime Division on Saturday arrested three Chinese nationals with foreign currencies worth Rs40.7 million from Kathmandu.

The smugglers carrying the money were caught at Nagdhunga check post at around 2:15am. The Chinese were on board a tourist vehicle and were headed to Kerung border point in Rasuwa district.

It is learnt the Chinese were carrying US dollars, euros and Swiss francs. Police suspect the currency might be connected to gold smuggling cases. 

SSP Sarbendra Khanal said the money could have been possessed for illegal activities, including drugs and of gold smuggling. 

“We had been monitoring these people. On Saturday, they used a vehicle with green registration number that was heading to Rasuwa,” said SSP Khanal. 

“Their documents show that they have been residing in Nepal for over a year with frequent travel history.”