Kathmandu. The Lumbini Province Police Office has launched a special campaign to control theft, smuggling and tax evasion by strengthening peace and security across the province. The police have further strengthened surveillance and mobilization of police in bordering districts including Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi (West), Banke, Bardiya and Dang to control illegal smuggling and criminal activities taking place through the open border points.

BARDIYA: The Lumbini Province Police Office today confiscated goods and vehicles worth Rs 4,361,840 from the border as part of a campaign launched to control customs evasion, smuggling of illegal goods and revenue leakage.

According to the police, two Indian nationals were arrested at Sanoshree area of Madhuban municipality-8 in Bardiya district while they were trying to smuggle goods into Nepal evading customs duty. Police confiscated two Bolero vehicles, a Pulsar motorcycle and 3,790 bananas from Rizwan Ansari, 22, and Kalim Khan, 20, of Bahraich district.

According to the police, the estimated value of the goods and vehicles is Rs 25.59 lakh. Police confiscated peanuts, betel nut, tobacco, cigarette, bidi, mouth freshener and plastic items from Madhuban municipality-6 from India.

The goods were confiscated from the houses of locals Padam Raj Chaudhary and Kopila Khatri with the value of Rs 1,802,840. According to the Lumbini Provincial Police Office, Lumbini, necessary investigation and legal action has been initiated against all the seized goods and vehicles. Lumbini Province Police Office Chief Deputy Inspector General of Police Bhupendra Bahadur Khatri said that the police have been working in the province keeping good governance and peace and security in priority.

He said the Nepal Police was committed to controlling smuggling and smuggling along the border, reducing crime and bringing remarkable improvements in citizen-friendly policing. Information Officer of Lumbini Province Police Office, Senior Superintendent of Police Sharada Prasad Chaudhary said that special surveillance and joint campaign has been continued to control smuggling, tax evasion and illegal transaction taking place along the border. According to him, the police was focused on controlling crime as well as economic crimes.

Meanwhile, the local community has also responded positively to the active campaign of the police. Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rupandehi President Led Acharya said the police had played an effective role in maintaining peace and security, controlling theft and smuggling and creating business-friendly environment in the province.