Gold Smuggling Case: Former speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Son among 29 charged in major corruption scandal

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s anti-corruption watchdog, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, has filed corruption charges against 29 individuals—including former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara and his son Rahul Mahara—in connection with a high-profile gold smuggling case linked to Tribhuvan International Airport customs operations.

The case centers on allegations that customs officials colluded with smuggling networks to facilitate the illegal import and handling of gold concealed inside electronic cigarettes (vapes) brought into Nepal via international flights.

Customs Officials Among Accused

The CIAA has charged several senior customs officials, including Chief Customs Administrator Arun Pokharel and Chief Customs Officers Muktiprasad Shrestha and Ambikaprasad Khanal. Other officials named in the charge sheet include Ramesh Kumar Khatiwada and Subendra Shrestha, along with multiple non-gazetted officers.

According to investigators, these officials allegedly bypassed mandatory inspection procedures and failed to conduct physical checks on suspicious cargo, instead cooperating with smuggling operatives.

Link: Mahara and Associates

Alongside government officials, the CIAA has charged Mahara, his son Rahul, and several other individuals—including Nirmal Kumar Bik, Lokendra Kumar Poudel, Dipesh Basnet, Gopal Subedi, and others—for acting as facilitators or accomplices in the smuggling network.

The anti-graft body has categorized Mahara and his associates as “accomplices” rather than direct perpetrators but claims they played a significant role in enabling the operation.

International Smuggling Network Exposed

The investigation traces the origin of the smuggling attempt to December 25, 2022 (10 Poush 2079 BS), when a Chinese national, Li Hang Song, arrived in Kathmandu on a FlyDubai flight carrying two suitcases.

Inside the luggage were 73 boxes containing 730 electronic cigarettes. Authorities allege that gold was concealed within these devices and smuggled into the country with the help of corrupt customs officials.

Other foreign nationals charged include Chinese citizen Li Hang Song and Dojing Wang, Belgian national Dawa Chhiring, and Indian national Saheb Rao Pandurang.

Evidence Tampering and Procedural Violations

The CIAA has accused customs officials of deliberately avoiding inspection protocols and storing confiscated goods improperly. Instead of placing the seized items in a secured warehouse, officials allegedly kept them inside the office of the chief customs officer.

Investigators also found evidence of unusual meetings and phone communications between customs officials and members of the smuggling group.

Further allegations include intentional delays and manipulation: the suspicious cargo was reportedly held at customs for around 19 days before being forwarded to the case and auction division. During that time, officials allegedly moved the items to areas outside CCTV coverage, raising concerns about possible tampering or substitution.

Financial Scale of the Scam

The CIAA claims that approximately 8.48 kilograms of gold were involved in the smuggling operation. The total financial damage is estimated at NPR 77.868 million (approximately Rs 7.78 crore), which authorities say was misappropriated through coordinated corruption.

Corporate Entity Also Booked

The anti-corruption body has also filed charges against a private company, Dekter Travels and Tours Pvt. Ltd., for its alleged involvement in facilitating the smuggling logistics.

Legal Framing

While customs officials face direct corruption charges, Mahara and his associates have been charged as accomplices under Nepal’s anti-corruption laws. The case is expected to proceed through the Special Court, where further evidence and testimonies will determine the extent of liability.

This case marks one of the most politically sensitive corruption prosecutions in recent years, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in Nepal’s customs and aviation security framework, particularly at the country’s only international airport.