Kathmandu: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has submitted its investigative report on the gold smuggling case to the District Attorney Office in Kathmandu. The report recommends the prosecution of 50 individuals involved in the smuggling.

The CIB's report advises the District Attorney Office to initiate legal proceedings against the accused under various charges, including violations of the Customs Act, Organized Crime Act, Nepal Rastra Bank Act, Criminal Code, Nepal Citizenship Act, Passport Act, and the Immigration Act, according to Additional Inspector General of Nepal Police and CIB Chief, Kiran Bajracharya.

Bajracharya revealed that the investigation uncovered evidence that those involved in the smuggling operation had illicitly transported over 362 kilograms of gold through seven companies. However, only 60 kilograms of gold were seized during the recent crackdown on smugglers.

The CIB has recommended that the District Attorney Office pursue legal action against the smugglers with the aim of recovering NPR 3.50 billion from them.

To date, 23 Nepali individuals and nine foreigners have been detained in connection with the case, while 18 remain at large.

On July 19, the Revenue Investigation Department (RID) confiscated 60 kilograms of gold at the TIA Customs Office in Sinamangal. The gold, illegally brought from Hong Kong, was concealed within brake shoes. Subsequently, the CIB was tasked with investigating the case.