Ex-gold smuggler caught with NPR 250m cash hidden in truck bound for China

March 18, 2025, 02:57:30 PM |

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police have apprehended a 43-year-old truck driver, Kusang Lama, alias “Phucche,” with a staggering NPR 250,160,338 in unaccounted cash, suspected to be part of an international smuggling operation targeting China via the Kerung border in Rasuwa. The dramatic seizure unfolded in Tokha’s Jhor area late Sunday night after a tip-off prompted swift action from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.

Acting on intelligence received at 11 p.m., police intercepted a cargo truck bearing the license plate Na. 1 Kha 1652. A meticulous search at the station uncovered the cash—comprising USD 31,195 and EUR 58,850—cleverly concealed in a false bottom within the driver’s cabin “bonnet.” The discovery has raised alarm bells about the scale of illicit financial flows through Nepal’s northern border.

During a press conference on Monday afternoon, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office revealed that Lama, a resident of Sindhupalchok’s Bhotekoshi Municipality-1, is no stranger to crime. He previously served a five-year prison sentence for smuggling 7 kilograms of gold, a case also handled by the same division. Authorities now believe Lama was operating as a courier, or “mule,” in this latest scheme, ferrying the massive sum under the guise of a legitimate truck driver.

“This is a significant breakthrough in our efforts to curb smuggling and tax evasion,” a senior police official stated, adding that the cash was likely destined to cross into China via the Rasuwa Gadhi checkpoint. Initial investigations suggest a sophisticated network may be at play, with Lama positioned as a low-level operative. His prior conviction has fueled suspicions of deeper ties to organized crime, prompting police to launch a broader probe into connections between his past and present offenses.

Lama has been charged with tax evasion and smuggling and is slated for transfer to the Revenue Department at Harihar Bhawan for further action. The seized amount, equivalent to over NPR 250 million, underscores the challenges Nepal faces in tackling black money and cross-border financial crimes.

Police are now working to unravel the origins of the cash and 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 what could be a larger crackdown on smuggling rings operating through Nepal’s rugged frontier.

Fiscal Nepal |

Tuesday March 18, 2025, 02:57:30 PM |