KATHMANDU: In Kathmandu, authorities have discovered a gold smuggling scheme that includes hiding stolen gold in sanitary pads. Three suspects were arrested by the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office after working with the Bhaktapur District Police on the case.
The suspects include Anita Tamang, also known as Minsang Lama Tamang (32), Sindhupalchok resident of Gokarneshwar Municipality in Kathmandu; Lal Bahadur Tamang (22), Kavre resident of Kathmandu Metropolitan City; and Sujan Nepali (26), resident of Panchakanya Rural Municipality-1 in Nuwakot who currently lives in Tokha Municipality in Kathmandu.
After a woman landed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) via Fly Dubai on December 29, the case became public. She had smuggled gold from Dubai, and authorities learned that it had been stolen. Following the tip, a combined police squad began an investigation that resulted in the three individuals being taken into custody.
To avoid being discovered at customs, the smugglers melted the gold into a liquid and applied it to sanitary pads, according to police. Officers found a motorcycle, three cell phones, and about 436.10 grams of stolen gold during the operation.
The arrests and the gold's recovery show how smugglers employ very advanced techniques to evade airport security. Additional individuals who may be linked to the smuggling network or the looting episode are being sought by police.
Investigations are still being conducted, and the matter is under the jurisdiction of the Bhaktapur District Police Office. Law enforcement is looking into whether similar methods have been used in other smuggling operations.
