Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: An ongoing investigation by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) into an organized extortion racket involving visit visas at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has significantly reduced the number of Nepalis traveling abroad on such visas.
The probe, exposing systemic corruption, has led to stricter immigration checks, cutting daily outbound travelers from 9,000-10,000 to approximately 6,000-7,800, according to an Immigration Department source. The source attributed the decline to intensified scrutiny of incomplete documentation and lower airfares to destinations like Dubai.
The investigation uncovered serious irregularities, including 212 Indian citizens sent to third countries without No Objection Certificates (NOCs) over four months under a former TIA Immigration Chief. This prompted the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to raise concerns, leading to stricter measures for Indian nationals transiting through TIA.
The CIAA is also investigating the use of fake NOCs and the escape of individuals linked to criminal activities, such as a ‘most wanted’ suspect in a 95.5 kg gold smuggling case in India. Despite being blacklisted on March 19, 2025, following a request from the Indian Embassy, the suspect evaded detection and fled to Dubai the next day, with his son having left earlier. Authorities attributed the incident to a “technical glitch,” but two immigration staff were removed from their posts.
The CIAA’s covert operation, launched on May 5, 2025, after nearly six weeks of secret investigations, revealed a syndicate involving immigration officials, police, and airline staff extorting up to NPR 300,000 per person for travel to Europe and NPR 30,000-50,000 for Gulf countries.
The probe was disrupted when information leaked to the Home Ministry, leading to the abrupt transfer of the former immigration chief. The CIAA raided the immigration office the next day, detaining the official and seizing three mobile phones, though the official was released that evening.
The scandal has raised questions about oversight within the Home Ministry, with concerns about ties to implicated officials. The CIAA’s ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the organized racket, which has damaged Nepal’s international reputation and left many Nepalis stranded abroad due to fraudulent job promises.
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