The Kathmandu District Court on Sunday remanded smugglers of 15kg gold and foreign currencies to seven-day custody for further investigation.

As several people are suspected to have been involved in the smuggling and have been operating through a big network, Superintendent of Police Pradhyumna Karki, spokesperson of Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, said they have launched an investigation under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

“We are searching for the actual owner of the gold,” said SP Karki, referring to heightened surveillance at check posts in the Valley, including Nagdhunga. “We’ve scaled up our operations, including raids, inside the Valley.”

Police had seized 15kg of gold worth Rs70 million hidden in the bonnet of a Tata Sumo in the wee hours of Saturday from Balaju.

The jeep driver Rabindra Bhujel was taken into custody.

Similarly, three Chinese nationals with foreign currencies worth Rs40.7 million were arrested along with a driver from Kathmandu on Saturday.

The smugglers carrying the money were caught at Nagdhunga check post and were found carrying US dollars, euros and Swiss francs. Police suspect the case has link with gold smuggling.