Chinese nationals have been found to be processing gold inside a rented house in Kathmandu’s Budhanilkantha area.
Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office was deployed to the area on Thursday afternoon.
Police had received information about suspicious activities at the location, with a tip suggesting that gold might be involved. The team was dispatched to investigate.
According to an office source, when police arrived, the Chinese nationals were about to leave in a vehicle. Officers stopped the vehicle and searched it.
“During the vehicle search, approximately two kilograms of gold were found. The team then entered the house,” the source said.
The source also said that three Chinese nationals attempted to attack the police after officers entered the house.
“They thought we were robbers or someone else and tried to assault us. They stopped after we identified ourselves as police officers,” the source said.
Police also discovered machines used to melt and process gold inside the rented house.
According to the investigation, the gold was allegedly brought in a semi-solid form during smuggling and later processed into gold bars using various machines and chemicals at the house.
Police seized 10.997 kilograms of gold in 11 pieces that had been prepared for further processing or distribution.
They also recovered 10.752 kilograms of semi-solid gold, which had been packed in plastic.
The total quantity of gold seized was reported to be 21.750 kilograms.
“We did not expect to find such a large quantity when we received the tip-off. We discovered much more than anticipated when we reached there,” the source said.
According to the source, police suspect that the gold may have been brought from Hong Kong by air. Further investigation into the suspected source and transportation route is underway.
