After knowing that as much as 38 quintals of gold had been smuggled into Kathmandu in the past five years, would you still want to get or gift golden jewelry? It was indeed an example of a very well-orchestrated crime involving commoners to serving/retired police personnel, and gold sellers. But we as the consumers/buyers of gold, there was no way we could find out that beneath the luster of the glittering jewelries were criminal activities.
People in Nepal still invest a lot of money in gold, mostly at rituals such as weddings where wearing enough jewelry is considered a matter of pride, not just wealth. There are also customs of unnecessarily gifting golden jewelry during weddings. While these days parents or couples make a choice whether or not to gift or be gifted jewelry, dowries are still prevalent. If demands are not met by the bride’s families, it could eventually result in the bride’s expulsion, or even death. There are reports to validate this! Thus the demand for gold, and the motive of the smugglers.
There are also people who think stocking up gold is one of the best ways to save money as the value does not depreciate much. But how can you know which gold stores have followed due process of customs? The practice of providing certificates of genuine gems and following of customs procedure should start soon.
Although not a fan of jewelry, during my sister’s wedding, I wanted to buy diamond as I don’t like the color of gold. It was strange that unlike gold sellers, the diamond seller was offering me a “heavy discount”. I did not understand. How can there be discount if those were expensive gems, extracted from mines, transported from overseas? I checked with the sellers if the nose stud I was wearing was a diamond or not. They said it was. But it was not! I had bought it for less than Rs 300. I guess it was a zirconia stud. Anyway, their answer was enough for me to drop the idea of buying diamond. They could be easily fooling many others with substitutes available for diamonds.
As the story is unfolding about the gold racket, of how people were abusing their power, I don’t think I would buy gold again. When travelling, if our suitcase is slightly over the prescribed weight, we need to get the extra weight out, even if it’s just garments. But after reading reports that gold was flushed in toilet or dropped in trash cans or through the holes of aircraft’s ladder, I am outraged at the airport security.
The case of 33.5 kg smuggled gold became news only when it went missing. After successfully breaching the airport customs rules! Three people have already died and there is a case against 63 people including Nepal Police staff. The case should conclude not only with tough actions against the culprits but also with a new rule of providing certificates for any gold people purchase. It might be too soon for people to give up their demand for gold but new rules should be in place soon to prevent future crimes.
