The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has formed a special committee to investigate suspected human trafficking involving individuals who travelled to Spain under the pretext of attending a United Nations conference.

The panel is headed by Senior Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati and includes investigators from the Bureau of Human Trafficking and Transportation Control. Bogati said the committee aims to submit its report to the police headquarters as soon as the inquiry is completed.

The investigation follows concerns that an organised network may have used government mechanisms to smuggle people into Europe.

The issue was raised during a meeting convened by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Monday, where he directed officials to look into allegations surrounding the recent high-level visit to Spain.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had led a 21-member official delegation to Seville, Spain, for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development organised by the United Nations. The delegation departed on June 28 and returned on July 4.

However, reports have emerged that around 82 individuals travelled to Spain around the same time, claiming to be conference participants, and that an additional 55 were stopped at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Many of those who reached Spain are believed to have remained there or crossed into other European countries such as Portugal, raising suspicion of a broader trafficking operation.

Sources suggest that the trafficking network may have charged large sums of money to arrange travel and entry into Europe using forged documents and unofficial channels.

Earlier, Home Minister Lekhak instructed the Nepal Police and relevant agencies to identify who authorised these individuals' travel and through which organisations the visas were secured. The probe committee is expected to examine whether any government officials were complicit in facilitating the travel.

The incident has prompted public outcry and political scrutiny, with opposition lawmakers raising the matter in Parliament.

While all members of the official delegation have returned, immigration officials remain uncertain about the whereabouts of others who obtained visas under the programme.