KATHMANDU, May 5: Police have arrested a staffer working at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) with a half kg of gold on Friday.
Kishor Kumar Khatri was arrested while he was receiving 466 gram gold brought by Manish Rimal upon his arrival at the TIA via Doha by a Qatar Airways flight.
TIA staffer Khatri had received the gold from Rimal upon his arrival at the TIA today.
TIA Custom Office had arrested both Rimal and Khatri.
Indian nationals held for smuggling gold
Rimal, originally from Tanahun, Dulegaunda, was returning home from Qatar after staying for four years there.
The arrested staffer Khatri is a senior officer (equivalent to the rank of under-secretary) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). He works at the Department of Air Traffic Control (ATC) who enjoys access to all the area of the TIA.
Custom staffers were keeping a close tab on Khatri after he suspiciously went to the runway to receive Rimal.
“Custom officials chased him down after Khatri went to suspiciously receive Rimal from the runway,” a source at the TIA told Republica Online, adding, “We chased him down to the passengers’ security checkpoint.” We found 466 gram gold in his bag during the security check.
Rimal had brought four pieces of gold. The investigation has been launched into the case following the arrest of a high-ranking official of the TIA.
Earlier, a staffer of Buddha Air had been arrested with gold a month ago.
