Kathmandu, March 19, 2025 – In a significant crackdown on illegal smuggling activities, Nepal Police have apprehended a truck driver with unaccounted foreign currency worth approximately NPR 250 million, suspected to be linked to an international gold smuggling operation.
The arrest occurred late Sunday night in the Jhor area of Tokha, following a tip-off received by the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office. The authorities intercepted a cargo truck bearing the license plate Na. 1 Kha 1652. A meticulous search revealed a concealed compartment in the driver’s cabin, where bundles of cash were hidden. The seized currency included USD 31,195 and EUR 58,850, totaling NPR 250,160,338.
The driver, identified as 43-year-old Kusang Lama, alias “Phucche,” hailing from Bhotekoshi Municipality-1 in Sindhupalchok, has a prior criminal record. He previously served a five-year prison sentence for smuggling 7 kilograms of gold. Authorities suspect Lama was operating as a courier in this latest scheme, transporting the substantial sum under the guise of a legitimate truck driver.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the cash was intended to cross into China via the Rasuwa Gadhi checkpoint, indicating a sophisticated network at play. Lama has been charged with tax evasion and smuggling and is slated for transfer to the Revenue Department at Harihar Bhawan for further action.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges Nepal faces in combating black money and cross-border financial crimes. Authorities are now working to trace the origins of the cash and identify its intended recipients, with forensic teams examining the truck for additional clues. The case has sparked calls for tighter border security and enhanced monitoring of suspicious financial activities as authorities brace for a broader crackdown on smuggling rings operating through Nepal’s northern frontier.
This seizure comes in the wake of previous incidents highlighting Nepal’s role as a transit point for gold smuggling. In July 2023, authorities seized 60 kilograms of gold concealed in motorcycle brake pads, leading to the prosecution of 29 individuals, including foreign nationals. Investigations revealed that over 362 kilograms of gold, valued at approximately NPR 3.5 billion, had been smuggled into Nepal through similar methods.
The Nepal Police continue to intensify efforts to dismantle such smuggling networks and curb illicit financial flows through the country’s borders.
