Gold smugglers use Malagadhi route after police crackdown
Following the major crackdown on gold trafficking in Rasuwagadhi and other northern border points, gold smugglers have started to use a new illegal trading point in Malagadhi, an area that lies near Nepal-China border in Rasuwa, to smuggle gold from China.
Following the major crackdown on gold trafficking in Rasuwagadhi and other northern border points, gold smugglers have started to use a new illegal trading point in Malagadhi, an area that lies near Nepal-China border in Rasuwa, to smuggle gold from China.
The incident came into light after police arrested Nima Dorje Tamang resident of Thuman, Gosainkunda Rural Municipality in Dhunche with two kilograms of illegal gold on Monday morning. Tamang was heading towards Kathmandu in a Tata Sumo from Syaphru. Police arrested Tamang after receiving a tip-off.
The District Police Office said Tamang had smuggled gold from Malagadhi. According to the police statement, Tamang had reached Malagadhi to receive gold. In Malagadhi, two Chinese nationals handed over the gold to Tamang, said DSP Santosh Tamang.
Malagadhi lies in Gosainkunda Rural Municipality-1. People have to walk an entire day to reach Malagadhi from Nakthali, Thuman.
Chief District Officer Krishna Paudel said an Armed Police Force Check Post would be set up in Nakthali to stop smuggling. “We are going to establish the check post within a week,” said CDO Paudel.
Smugglers have started to use Rasuwagadhi border point to smuggle gold after Tatopani border point in Sindhupalchok was closed following the earthquake in April 25, 2015.
Police have already seized 179 kilograms of illegal gold from Rasuwagadhi border point. Within the last three years, 10 people were arrested with 39 kilograms of gold from Rasuwagadhi.
After China declared the Rasuwagadhi border an international border post in August 2017, it has witnessed an increase in movement of goods and Chinese tourists.
The Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border point had formally come into operation in November 2014.
In most of the cases, only carriers were arrested with the smuggled gold, said police. Sources said that gold carriers from other districts have also started to migrate in Rasuwa as people of other districts should have permission to enter Kerung.
The vehicles have to pass 12 check posts while travelling through Rasuwagadhi-Betrawati road section.
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