By Our Reporter
The investigation committee formed to trace the masterminds behind the smuggling of gold has been unable to identify them.
Instead, it was revealed the employees working at the Tribhuvan International Airport were helping the smugglers to pass the gold from the airport. As a result, a large amount of gold was being passed from the TIA every day.
The probe committee formed after the seizure of 14 kg of smuggled gold from the Tribhuvan Airport Customs Office concluded that Min Bahadur Ghale and his group had smuggled 138 kg of gold in five months. Of that, only 14 kg of gold was seized by the customs office.
On December 8, Chandra Ghale, who came to Kathmandu from Dubai, was arrested by the customs office with 14 kg of gold.
Later, Min Bahadur Ghale of Gorkha, who had used Chandra as a mule, was also arrested on the same day.
The Mani Ram Paudel-led probe committee’s investigation has shown that Min Bahadur had been in regular contact and communication with a person named Ankit Agarwal in Dubai and arranged to smuggle gold to Nepal. Paudel is also chief of the TIA Customs Office.
The investigation committee said, “On different dates, Min Bahadur Ghale, Chandra Ghale and Krishna Kumar Shrestha brought a total of 138 kg of gold and took it out from the airport by arranging the secret settings inside the airport.”
Min Bahadur and Chandra along with Krishna Kumar Shrestha used to bring gold from Dubai. It has been found that Dan Bahadur Gurung, alias DB, was used to arrange the settings at the airport.
The committee concluded that air conditioner mechanic Radhakrishna Shrestha of Gauchar, office assistant Lek Bahadur Tamang, former contract employee Ramesh Deula, office assistant working in the AC branch Anil Shrestha and plumber Sher Bahadur Basnet played their role in sending the gold out from the airport.
Ramesh, Radhakrishna and Anil used to deliver the gold collected from the airport to DB Gurung’s house in Suryadarshan Height, Baniyatar, Tokha Municipality, Kathmandu.
Thereafter, the collected gold used to be taken to the destinations by Min Bahadur and his friend Jeevan Gurung, alias Jane, as instructed by Ankit.
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