- Police seized 21 kilograms of gold from a rented house in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, including 11 kilograms already processed into bars.
- Several suspects, including Chinese nationals, were arrested alongside equipment used for melting and processing the illegal metal.
- Authorities are investigating the gold's source and smuggling route, following a string of high-profile trafficking cases in Nepal.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Police have seized 21 kilograms of gold from Budhanilkantha in Kathmandu and arrested people suspected of involvement in its illegal trade.
A team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office recovered the gold from a rented house in Chapali on Thursday afternoon after receiving information about the suspected operation.
According to police, 11 kilograms of the gold had already been processed into bars, while another 10 kilograms was yet to be processed. Investigators also recovered equipment believed to have been used to melt and process the metal.
Chinese nationals are among those arrested. Police have not yet released their identities or confirmed the total number of people detained.
Investigators suspect the house was being used to process gold after it was brought into Nepal. They are trying to determine its source, how it entered the country and who else was involved in the operation.
Police have not established whether the gold came through Tribhuvan International Airport, a land border or another route. Its intended destination is also unclear.
The seizure comes amid a series of major gold-smuggling cases in Nepal. In July 2023, authorities seized about 60 kilograms of gold concealed inside motorcycle brake shoes after the consignment passed through Tribhuvan International Airport. The investigation led to the arrest and prosecution of several people.
In the latest case, investigators are focusing on the suspected processing of gold inside Kathmandu as well as the people involved in bringing and distributing it.
Police are continuing their investigation and are expected to release further details about the suspects, the source of the gold and the suspected network.
