Mustang. Police have impounded a Scorpio vehicle along with two more persons for their involvement in the seizure of electronic cigarettes being smuggled to Jomsom via Nepal-China North Korlan route.
The Area Police Office, Lete, based in Thasang Rural Municipality had arrested them on Saturday morning on the charge of their involvement in the smuggling of vapes.
Police Inspector Santosh Basyal, Information Officer at the District Police Office, Santosh Basyal, informed that the driver of the vehicle, Dipesh Gadal, 41, of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-4, Sindhupalchowk and Rabindra Darnal, 39, of Lisankhu Pakhar Rural Municipality-7, Sindhupalchowk, were arrested for investigation.
According to him, the Area Police Office arrested him on suspicion of his involvement in the vape scandal during a check at the Lette check post.
Earlier, a joint team of security personnel and employees of Mustang Customs Office had seized the electronic cigarettes (vape) smuggled from China at 11:00 pm on Friday while they were on their way to Jomsom after evading customs duty.
The vapes loaded in cargo containers with registration numbers Na 6 Kha 4743 and Na 5 Kha 7921 were confiscated. According to the Customs Office, the police confiscated 590 cartons of vapes, socks, shoes, baby shorts, empty cartoons and game vests, among others.
According to the police, the value of the vape and other goods imported from China by evading customs duty is estimated to be Rs 16.65 crore. Police arrested three persons, including the driver and a man, along with two containers along with other vapes loaded with vapes.
The arrested have been identified as container driver Santosh Lama, 42, of Dhunibesi municipality-1, Dhading, another container driver Phunchu Dorje, 49, of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-2, Sindhupalchowk and his friend Pasang Sherpa, 51, of Jugal Rural Municipality-3, Sindhupalchowk.
Meanwhile, the District Court has remanded the five suspects in custody for 10 days for further investigation, said Bidur Chudal, chief of the Mustang Customs Office.
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