CIAA files case against 29 in TIA gold smuggling scam

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 10 :The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Thursday filed a corruption case against 29 individuals, including former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara and his son Resham Mahar, for their alleged involvement in gold smuggling through Tribhuvan International Airport at the Special Court.

According to the CIAA, the defendants colluded with smugglers, accepting large bribes to facilitate illegal gold imports.

The incident dates back to December 25, 2022, when Chinese national Li Hang Song arrived at TIA with two suitcases containing 730 vape devices concealing gold. Despite suspicious X-ray indications, officials failed to conduct proper checks and instead cleared the items under the Red Channel.

The CIAA investigation revealed that the gold-containing vapes were later swapped with ordinary ones and sold through local networks.

According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly colluded with a Chinese smuggling network to illegally import gold hidden inside vape devices and facilitated the clearance of the contraband brought into Nepal in December 2022. The CIAA stated that 8.48 kg of gold worth over Rs. 77.8 million was misappropriated, with proceeds laundered through various accounts.

The CIAA has sought fines and prison sentences against the accused, including officials allegedly involved in negligence and collusion during the inspection and clearance process, along with recovery of the embezzled amount.

Those charged include former chief customs administrator at TIA Customs Office Arun Pokharel, chief customs officers Mukti Prasad Shrestha and Ambika Prasad Khanal, customs officers Ramesh Kumar Khatiwada and Subendra Shrestha, along with several non-gazetted officers.

The case also names foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens Li Hang Song and Daojing Wang, Belgian national Dawa Tshering, Indian national Saheb Rao Pandurang Margale, and Dexter Travels and Tours Pvt. Ltd.