KATHMANDU, Oct 9: Three Chinese nationals arrested with nearly 22 kilograms of gold in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, had rented an entire house to process the gold, police have revealed.
The suspects were paying Rs 330,000 a month for the house in Bhangal, Budhanilkantha Municipality-2, and had paid Rs 1.32 million in advance for four months, according to the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.
Indian nationals arrested with smuggled gold
Police arrested Han Fei, Zhou Longqing and Su Qian from the house on Thursday, seizing 21.75 kilograms of gold valued at Rs 546 million, according to police.
The suspects were reportedly operating under the direction of Zhen Jia, who lives in Guangzhou, China, and instructed them where to deliver the gold in Nepal and to whom.
Investigators found that the gold was brought into Nepal in a semi-solid form and processed at the rented house using machines and chemicals to turn it into gold bars.