International Collaboration in Gold Smuggling Case: Nepal Police Joins Forces with India and Hong Kong

In a significant development, the Nepal Police has joined hands with law enforcement agencies from India and Hong Kong to tackle a complex gold smuggling case involving foreign nationals. Foreign assistance has been sought through Interpol, underlining the global nature of the crime.

The Nepal Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol has initiated correspondence with its Indian and Hong Kong counterparts, requesting their cooperation in the ongoing investigation. As part of the cooperative effort, the head of each country’s National Central Bureau of Interpol will oversee the collaboration.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, which is currently spearheading the probe into the gold smuggling case, has officially reached out to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) seeking assistance. Inspector General of Police, Basant Bahadur Kunwar, confirmed the dispatch of formal requests to Interpol’s offices in Hong Kong and India.

The incident that triggered the investigation dates back to July 18 when authorities seized a substantial amount of gold weighing 60 kilograms and 716 grams. This gold had been transported from Hong Kong and was intercepted by the Revenue Investigation Department near the Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office. Following the seizure, the CIB assumed control of the investigation into the gold smuggling case.

In the light of unfolding leads, the CIB has apprehended a total of 23 individuals suspected of being involved in the gold smuggling operation. The investigation has so far unveiled a complex network with involvement from Indian and Chinese nationals. Preliminary findings suggest that the detained Chinese nationals have played a pivotal role in establishing and operating a far-reaching gold smuggling network within Nepal.

The collaborative efforts involving the Nepal Police, Indian authorities, and Interpol’s Hong Kong office reflect the commitment of the international law enforcement community to combat transnational crimes like gold smuggling. The joint investigation is anticipated to yield further insights into the intricate workings of the smuggling operation and potentially uncover additional individuals connected to the case.