By Our Correspondent, Nepalgunj, Jan. 5: With the declining threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nepal’s Armed Police Force is intensifying border patrol along the Nepal-India border to curb increasing smuggling and black marketing along the routes.

Despite the authorities sealing the borders, people, as well as smuggled goods, are moving unfettered through the main and side entry points. Bearing this in mind, the APF Bageshwori has launched a special campaign against such illegal trade.

The APF unit stationed at Banke is specifically responsible for the campaign and has been successfully monitoring illegal imports to mitigate the problem, said Chief ASP Ashok Bam.

After receiving intelligence of increasing illicit activities to and from the borders, the APF has been extra vigilant to check everything passing the entry points and ensuring payments of import duty. “Every day, we have been able to recover smuggled goods and detain perpetrators,” informed ASP Bam.

The APF-led campaign has so far recovered a total of Rs. 242,100 worth of illegal goods including two motorcycles. On Monday morning itself, a team of security personnel led by Assistant Inspector (ASI) of the Armed Police Force Amar Tharu retrieved Rs. 131,500 worth of smuggled electronic products.

As per APF Banke, illicit activities are more common in the early hours of the day as perpetrators aim to take advantage of looming morning mists.

Likewise, on Monday morning itself, the Border Outposts (BOPs) at Chaulika Check Post confiscated shoes, blankets, and one motorcycle, which were being brought without paying the import duty.

Security at all the check posts and entry points in Banke district has been made stringent.