The Metropolitan Crime Division on Friday arrested a Chinese national on the charge of producing illegal alcohol from his rented flat at Jyatha in Thamel.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team from the Metropolitan Crime Branch raided the flat at Ward 26 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and arrested Shi Zhiwei, 56, along with four machines, 113 drums of raw materials used to produce liquor and liquor, which were ready to to be sent to the market.

According to police superintendent Krishna Koirala of the Metropolitan Crime Division, Shi will be sent to the Inland Revenue Department as he has been found operating an illegal liquor factory.

“At the same time, we will investigate whether he was staying legally or not by coordinating with the Department of Immigration,” said Koirala.

The Shi case is just the latest in a row as in another recent incident police had arrested four Chinese nationals from Thamel on July 5, for their alleged involvement in gambling and illegally trading in wildlife parts.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of police from the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range and Metropolitan Police Circle, Lainchaur had arrested Zhao Pencheng, 31, Ma Jingbin, 34, Niu Yuliang, 31, and Peng Hui, 28, along with Rs 889,144 cash and several wildlife parts.

The animal parts included tiger skin, tiger teeth, 20 pieces of musk glands, rudraksha [utrasum beads], ATM cards, and vouchers from various banks.

Every year, hundreds of foreigners are caught in Nepal for committing various crimes. According to the data provided by the Department of Prison Management, as of June 14, a total of 1, 281 foreign nationals were serving jail sentences or awaiting final court verdict in different prisons across the country.

The data also shows that criminals from over 30 countries are doing their time in Nepali prisons. The foreigners serving their prison terms include Indians, Chinese, Pakistanis, Bhutanese, Nigerians, French, British and Canadians among others.

According to the department’s data, of the 1,281 foreign nationals, 1095 or around 85 percent, are Indian nationals.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic affecting most activities and businesses since the first lockdown, which started on March 24 last year, data suggest that there has been no let up in criminal activities involving foreigners, the data suggest. The number of foreigners in Nepali jails remains almost constant compared to the same period last year, according to the data. Last year, there were 1,284 of them and this year 1,281.

According to Senior Superintendent Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, most commons crimes committed by foreigners are drugs smuggling, gold smuggling, wildlife smuggling, forgery, paedophilia and human trafficking.

“Foreigners who are caught committing crime on the Nepali soil are dealt with as per the Nepali law,” said Kunwar.

Kunwar said that if some foreigners flee after committing crime in Nepal, the Interpol issues a red corner notice and asks member countries to assist in locating the suspects.

Interpol is an international organisation of 194 member states created to enhance worldwide police cooperation. However, it does not have the power to arrest or detain anybody.

According to Director General of Department of Imigration Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, if a foreigner has violated immigration rules of Nepal then they are deported after being subjected to punishment as per the Nepali immigration laws and if they are involved in other crimes as well then they face more actions depending upon their crimes.