Rupandehi police have seized goods worth Rs126.77 million smuggled from India via various border points without customs clearance over the past fiscal year.

Unveiling the annual report at a press conference, Superintendent of Police Pradeep Bahadur Chhetri said police teams deployed under the District Police Office, Rupandehi, and subordinate units confiscated the illegally imported goods between mid-July last year and mid-July this year.

Police said the highest-value seizure, Rs29.76 million, was recorded between mid-May and mid-June, while the lowest, Rs3.88 million, was recorded from mid-December to mid-January.

In the year-long campaign, police arrested 113 individuals for involvement in customs evasion and smuggling. No arrests were made in mid-January to mid-February, while 43 were taken into custody in mid-June to mid-July alone. The arrested individuals were handed over to the Bhairahawa Customs Office, the Animal Quarantine Office, and the Revenue Investigation Office for further legal action, police said.

In addition, 334 vehicles used in smuggling operations were confiscated during the period. Among them were 302 motorcycles, eight trucks, 17 pickup vans, six auto-rickshaws, and one tractor, SP Chhetri said.

“There is now strict surveillance at border points,” he said. “It’s nearly impossible to bring goods without customs clearance, and if they do, we ensure arrests and seizures.”