Form a special probe committee

If Nepali workers return home from abroad with two phones or slightly more gold than allowed, they face interrogation at TIA. Surprisingly, the government seems unwilling to take strict action against gold smugglers.

The Home Minister and Finance Minister had no idea about the attempt to smuggle roughly 100 kg of gold? Negligence of airport officials in detecting gold through X-ray machines has raised fresh concerns.

What compounds the case is the involvement of CPN (Maoist Center) leaders in gold smuggling. Despite this revelation, the government remains tight-lipped. That is why the UML has sought a special investigation committee.

During KP Sharma Oli’s premiership, a culprit involved in the 33-kg gold smuggling case was apprehended, instilling hope that Nepal will no longer be a transit point for such illegal activities. After the change of guard, more instances of smuggling have emerged, and authorities seem to be struggling to apprehend offenders.

The author is chief whip of CPN-UML