The Department of Revenue Investigation has sought support from the Nepal Police to investigate the smuggling of a large quantity of gold seized last week, in what may be billed as one of the largest gold scams in the country.

The department said it has so far arrested 16 people connected to the scam, including an Indian and a Chinese national.

“We have sought the support of the Nepal Police,” said DRI Director General Nawa Raj Dhungana. “Nepal Police has already sent an officer to help us.”

Police spokesman Deputy Inspector General Kuber Kadayat confirmed that Superintendent of Police Krishna Pangeni will be assisting in the DRI investigations. “After the DRI wrote to us, asking us to send an experienced police officer for investigations, we sent Pangeni.”

On July 18, gold weighing over a quintal, concealed inside motorcycle brake shoes, was seized by the Central Investigation Bureau as the consignment was being whisked away in a taxi after getting the customs clearances from the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Part of the gold seized during the raid by the DRI was imported by Kathmandu-based firm Ready Trade while the rest belonged to another firm.

Thereafter, the DRI seized an additional six cartons of metal items some of which are related to Ready Trade. The DRI has been examining whether these metal items contain any gold.

As these metal items belonged to firms involved in the smuggling of gold, an examination is being conducted to determine whether the cargo items also contain gold. Likewise, the DRI has also been recording the statements of those arrested last week with the gold, officials at the DRI said.

With the smuggling of such a huge quantity of gold through the Tribhuvan International Airport, the Department of Customs has also initiated investigation about the lapses that occurred during the customs clearance process by suspending two of its staff involved.

DG Dhungana said the DRI had sought police help to investigate revenue leakages and gold smuggling.

Some experts are also calling for an investigation into organised crime in connection with the gold smuggling case. Former Deputy Inspector General of Police Hemanta Malla Thakuri earlier told the Post that smuggling of gold was a crime with an international dimension and demands an investigation into organised crime too.

However, both the DRI and Nepal Police clarified that immediately there is no plan for investigating the accused for organised crime. “Whether to investigate them on charges of organised crime is not related to us,” said Dhungana. “The DRI is an agency to investigate gold smuggling and we are doing it within our jurisdiction.”

He said that separate investigations could become necessary depending on what transpires during the ongoing investigation. Earlier too, the CIB of Nepal Police had investigated the fake Bhutanese refugee scam and the Lalita Niwas land scam for organised crime as well.

But, police said no government agency has asked the police to investigate this case for organised crime. “We have not yet been asked to investigate organised crime in this case,” said CIB spokesman Superintendent of Police Sanjaya Singh Thapa.

According to the police, they should not move ahead to investigate organised crime by itself as one investigation is currently ongoing. “If this case has to be investigated for organised crime too, the Home Ministry or DRI may tell us to do so,” said DIG Kadayat.