Prime Minister Entrusts CIB with Major Gold Smuggling Case Investigation

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) has been assigned by the government to lead the investigation into a major smuggling case involving a staggering one quintal of gold. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda underscored CIB’s specialized expertise in tackling international organized crime as he directed the agency to take charge of the case.

Top-level government sources have confirmed that Prime Minister Dahal issued the directive for CIB’s continued involvement in the investigation following a high-level meeting convened yesterday. The meeting saw the participation of key officials including Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel, Inspector General of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, CIB Chief Kiran Bajracharya, and Director General of Revenue Investigation Department Navaraj Dhungana.

The investigation was launched in the wake of the seizure of an estimated 155 kilograms of gold concealed within brake shoes, evading customs scrutiny at the Tribhuvan International Airport. The intricate operation involved a range of individuals, with arrests having already been made, including nationals from China, India, and Belgium, all suspected of being connected to the smuggling network.

The decision to entrust CIB with this high-profile case comes amidst Minister of Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma’s recent assertion that a separate high-level probe committee was unnecessary. Minister Sharma clarified that the ongoing investigation by the Department of Revenue Investigation, under the purview of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, was already addressing the gold smuggling scam.