Kathmandu: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) has been entrusted by the government to spearhead the investigation into a major smuggling case involving one quintal of gold. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda emphasized the expertise of CIB as a specialized agency in tackling international organized crime during his instruction to assign them to this case.
Senior government sources revealed that Prime Minister Dahal directed the continuation of the investigation through CIB after a meeting held last evening. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel, Inspector General of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, CIB Chief Kiran Bajracharya, and Director General of Revenue Investigation Department Navaraj Dhungana.
The investigation stems from the seizure of approximately 155 kilograms of brake shoes containing gold that had evaded customs scrutiny at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Several individuals, including Chinese, Indian, and Belgian nationals, have already been arrested in connection with the case.
It should be noted that Minister of Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma had on Thursday afternoon said that there was no need of forming a high-level probe committee to investigate the recent gold smuggling scam as an investigation into it was already underway.
Minister Sharma clarified that a high-level probe committee was not necessary as the Department of Revenue Investigation has started investigating the scam. Responding to queries from media persons, she had mentioned that there was no need for a high-level probe committee as the Department of Revenue Investigation under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has been carrying out investigations into the smuggling of around 100 kg of gold from Tribhuvan International Airport.
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