Police seized a huge amount of smuggled gold and silver from an apartment in Birgunj Metropolitan City-5 on Saturday.

Acting on a tip-off, security personnel raided a flat in Reshamkothi and seized 23.275 kg gold and 2.262 kg silver, according to Superintendent of Police Ganga Panta.

According to the security unit of the apartment, the flat belongs to Ashok Sinha, an Indian national from Eastern Champaran in Bihar. It is learnt that Sinha works at the customs office in Raxaul, India and his brother is contesting for the Bidhan Sabha (legislative assembly) election in Bihar scheduled for November 7.

“We were informed that there was a huge stash of gold at the apartment. The flat was kept under security surveillance for the past two days. We waited for the flat owner till Saturday morning but nobody showed up. So we broke in and raided the flat in the presence of the people’s representatives,” said SP Panta.

According to Panta, there were 13 biscuits of gold each weighing one kilogram and 56 other biscuits of lesser weight. Different gold ornaments weighing 689 grams were also seized from the apartment. Detailed investigation into the case is underway, said police. The flat owner has yet to come to police contact.