Kathmandu: In a recent breakthrough in the gold smuggling investigation, the Department of Revenue Investigation conducted a raid at a warehouse owned by Ready Trade Pvt Ltd in Sorhakhutte, Kathmandu. The raid followed suspicions that the company might be involved in concealing gold. This suspicion was prompted by the confiscation of approximately 100 kilograms of gold at Tribhuvan International Airport on July 19, which was allegedly linked to Ready Trade Pvt Ltd.

During the warehouse operation, investigators discovered numerous cartons of 'brake shoes.' This development added to the intrigue surrounding the case, as officials believe these shipments may be somehow connected to the alleged gold smuggling.

Further scrutiny into the matter led to the apprehension of Dinesh Tamang, a resident of Nuwakot district, bringing the total number of individuals detained in connection with the case to 17. The Revenue Investigation Department is actively pursuing leads and diligently searching for other potential suspects linked to the scam.

In a surprising twist, suspicions arose about a malfunctioning gold X-ray machine at the airport customs office, which seemed to have been ineffective for years. It is alleged that the machine was deliberately kept inoperable as a facade to discourage smugglers. However, instead of detecting gold, the faulty device only displayed images of harmless items like brake shoes and door cutting machines. The customs department began investigating the imports connected to Dilip Bhujel's company, which raised further concerns.

Customs records revealed an unusual pattern of imports associated with Dilip Bhujel's company, "Ready Trade." Out of 28 shipments attributed to the company, 15 consisted of brake pads, 12 of saver machines, and one of mechanical motors. The Revenue Investigation Department expressed suspicions that these transactions might have been used as a cover for surreptitious gold smuggling.

A critical discovery was made on May 17, 2023, when the first shipment from China's Dongun Sutu Transport Company Limited to Nepal was recorded, coinciding with the time the X-ray machine was rendered inoperable. The shipment reportedly contained shaving machines, raising eyebrows due to its unusual declaration of 200 beard cutting machines valued at 400 US dollars and weighing 66 kg. Interestingly, both brake pads and beard shavers were imported from China, adding to the complexity of the case.

On May 26, 2023, another potentially related incident occurred when mechanical motors were imported from Taiwan's Talmud Company Limited. The declared customs value for this shipment was 480 US dollars, with a total weight of 52 kg.

As the investigation intensifies, officials from the Revenue Investigation Department suspect that smugglers might have taken advantage of the inoperable X-ray machine to clandestinely transport gold into the country. The case continues to unravel, and authorities are committed to uncovering the truth behind the alleged gold smuggling operation. Further updates and progress on the investigation will be shared as more information becomes available.