Kathmandu, Aug 6: The Revenue Investigation Department (RID) has entrusted the entire investigation of one quintal gold smuggling case to the Nepal Police.
Director General Navraj Dhungana, in a press conference on Sunday, informed that since gold smuggling is an international organized crime, the Department has decided to hand over the entire responsibility of further investigation and prosecution of the case to the police. Director General Dhungana said that all the arrested accused will be handed over to the police.
For the first time in its 46-year long history, the department handed over its jurisdictional case to the police during the investigation.
On Ashad 2, the Department seized 100 kilos of gold at the main gate of the Tribhuvan International Airport customs. So far, 18 people, including 2 Chinese nationals and one Indian, have been arrested in the case of gold imported from Hong Kong to Nepal. Among those arrested are 3 airport customs employees.
By the third week after the recovery of the gold, the department raided four godowns of the gold smuggler in Baluwatar, Lajimpat, Sohrakhutte and Tokha.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ earlier informed that the Department will be handing the case to Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
At present, the Department of Revenue Investigation falls under Prime Minister’s Office.
