By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 22: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) security officials have arrested over a dozen foreign nationals with more than three kilograms of gold in a period of less than two weeks since December 9.
On December 9, the officials detained 31-year-old Satham Hussain Segu Abubacker, an Indian national, from the international arrival parking area. Satham had arrived by flight number RA230 of Nepal Airlines from Dubai.
“When Satham was being taken to Kathmandu Medical College (KMC) in Sinamangal for routine examination, it was found that he was smuggling gold by hiding it inside his rectum,” read a statement by the Metropolitan Police Airport Security Office.

Satham had hidden five pieces of gold, which was turned into semi-solid form, wrapped in rubber inside his rectum. The pieces weighed 905 gram in total. During investigation, police found that 35-year-old Kadar Ibrahim was also involved in the smuggling activities with Satham. Ibrahim, an Indian national with Adhaar card number 2257-9141-1095, was also arrested. While Nepalis returning through TIA have been used as carriers for smuggling the precious yellow metal, foreigners are also using the TIA to smuggle the gold to one of the largest consumers –India.

On December 10, police arrested 50-year-old Siraj Madapat Baputty from the baggage checking area of the domestic terminal in TIA. Madapat was en-route to Simara via Kathmandu through a flight number 541 of Guna Airlines at 8:40 am. He had arrived the same day from Dubai via Jazeera Airways. Three gold biscuits weighing around 350 grams were found hidden in the luggage of Madapat.
“Madapat was trying to reach India through the open border once he landed in Simara. The plan, however, failed,” said Mahesh Bhattarai, chief at the TIA Customs Office.

Security officials at TIA argued that foreigners, mostly Indians, use the TIA citing security is weaker here than in the Indian airports. “However, it is not the case,” said Bhattarai.
According to Bhattarai, customs and police have been coordinating to upgrade the surveillance and intelligence at the airport to keep a close eye on both Nepalis and foreigners.
On December 15, two Indian nationals were arrested again. Mohammed Sahid Ibrahim Shaikh, 32, was found hiding approximately 379 grams of gold-like material in his rectum during an X-ray at KMC. He had arrived from Dubai.

Likewise, Irhsad Ahammed, 35, who also arrived from Dubai, was held with around 442 grams of semi-gold wrapped by plastics. While Indian nationals have been found to be smuggling the gold to India after landing in Nepal, officials were amazed to find Bangladeshi nationals.
On December 14, five Bangladeshi nationals who arrived from Dubai via Himalaya Airlines were arrested with 1,311 grams of gold.

They have been identified as Tawhidul Tanvir, Md Younus Ali, Sobhan Talukdar, Jahidul Islam and Md Mirajul Islam. The five individuals had brought gold jewelleries – chains, bracelets and rings – alongside gold biscuits.
“During preliminary investigations, the Bangladeshi nationals have been arguing that they were unaware of the Nepali laws regarding gold. But we further arrested three other Bangladeshi nationals the next day in a similar fashion,” said Bhattarai.

Airport officials informed that the TIA has been a major transit for gold smuggling. “Investigation is on to find where the source and destination of the smuggled gold is and the masterminds behind. Foreigners’ involvement in smuggling also shows the need of strict policies about the passengers,” said Bhattarai.