Kathmandu, Mar. 7: On March 2, Resham Raj Bhattarai, 48, of Mirmi Rural Municipality-6 of Syangja district, was arrested with 1.59 million Japanese Yen from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). He was on his way to Japan via Singapore by Flight No. SQ439 of Singapore Airlines.

The currency was found in Bhattarai’s hand baggage through an X-ray machine. He was then sent to the Lalitpur-based Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) for further legal process.
Nepal government has restricted travellers leaving the country from carrying foreign currencies over in excess of 5,000 US dollars or equivalent. However, foreign currencies exceeding the limit have been seized on several dates from the TIA while being smuggled abroad.

The 1.59 million Japanese Yen seized from Bhattarai was equivalent to more than 13,000 US dollars.
“We are not sure why people smuggle foreign currencies against the ceiling set by the government. If anyone is found carrying currencies against the set guidelines, we arrest them and hand them over to the DRI,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bhim Prasad Dhakal, chief at the Metropolitan Police Airport Security Office (MPASO).

Sitaram BK, 42, of Gorkha district, was also arrested after he was found carrying 13,000 US dollars in his pants pocket on September 20, 2021. He was on the way to Dubai.
According to various press statements issued by the MPASO, a Nepal Police unit providing security to the TIA, Nepalis alongside foreign nationals, mostly Indians, get arrested while smuggling foreign currencies abroad.
Esaack Khan Ebrahim Khan, an Indian national, was arrested with 15,001 US dollars, 610 Saudi riyals, 36 Omani rials, 920 UAE dirhams and IRs. 2,000 on January 23 from the TIA while en-route to Dubai.

On January 24, 45-year-old Indian national Satish Parshottam Sajnani was held with 20,150 US dollars, 1,355 UAE dirhams and NRs. 31,600 alongside some Indian rupees and pound sterling. He was also planning to fly to Dubai.
Aarish, a 40-year-old Indian national, was arrested with 38,900 Malaysian ringgits on January 25 while en-route to Malaysia.

Hafiz Attique Ur Rehman, a Pakistani national, was also arrested with 47,150 Saudi riyals and 400 UAE dirhams among others from the TIA on January 28 while en-route to Dubai.
All the arrested individuals were sent to the DRI for further investigation.

“The amount with which the people were arrested from the TIA is against the ceiling set by the government. The source from where the hefty amount of foreign currency is being exchanged or obtained is unknown and the purpose of taking it abroad varies from person to person,” said Krishna Prasad Pandey, information officer for DRI.

Officials at Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank of the country, argued that US dollars and other currencies were exchanged by banks and money changers abiding by the limits.
“There is a legal restriction on foreign currency exchange and it is implemented effectively. But it is a matter of concern that people are still smuggling it in large quantities,” said Narayan Prasad Pokhrel, deputy spokesperson for NRB.

He added that the NRB will take steps towards its prevention by investigating into the issue properly.
“Providing foreign currency digitally through dollar travel card is also being prioritised by banks over cash,” said Pokhrel.
Officials stressed that a traveller can carry more money than the ceiling in cases of special purpose including medical by presenting proofs and receiving permission from the authorities.

“If an individual carries excess amounts without declaring it through a concerned government authority, it will be seized and the person arrested as it is an act against the law,” said SSP Dhakal.
DRI information officer Pandey argued that the hefty amount of money being smuggled without declaration shows dubiousness over the money’s source and purpose.
However, officials informed that they were unaware of the source and purpose.

“It is still not certain for what reason people smuggle foreign currencies. Finding the purpose is difficult since the money is seized before reaching its destination. Arrested ones also don’t cooperate with police properly. It is also hard to identify how they exchanged or obtained such large amount of foreign currencies,” said Pandey.
According to Nepal Police, they seized illicit currencies worth Rs. 70,165,944 in 2020/21.

Officials also informed that some carried more foreign currencies without knowledge but they were still liable to legal actions.
“We request that Nepalis and foreigners travelling abroad via Nepal to carry foreign currencies as per the rule to avoid legal troubles,” Pandey suggested.