The Department of Revenue Investigation has identified Narayan Poudel of Sindhupalchowk as the owner of the illegal foreign currencies worth Rs 250 million seized on March 17. The department has recommended issuing an arrest warrant through the police for further investigation, and has intensified a manhunt for Poudel who is also accused of being involved in other scams.

Director General of the Department of Revenue Investigation, Chandi Prasad Bhatta, stated that a letter has been sent requesting an arrest warrant for Poudel, who is a permanent resident of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-4, Sindhupalchowk, and currently resides in Tokha Municipality-10, Kathmandu.

"Poudel, the owner of the seized Rs 250 million, is a controversial figure involved in multiple scandals, including gold smuggling. We have decided to arrest him for further investigation," Bhatta told New Business Age. He also confirmed that the department has already requested relevant agencies to freeze Poudel’s assets.

The department has searched various locations, including Poudel’s residence in Kathmandu. During the search, officials discovered that he had concealed all potential evidence. The case is being investigated under the Foreign Exchange Act.

The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office had intercepted a truck with registration number Na 7 Kha 1652 on March 17 while it was en route to China to purchase clothing. The truck’s driver, Kunsang Lama—who also owns the vehicle—was arrested, and a large sum of foreign currency was seized. The US dollars and euros were hidden in a false compartment on the left side above the driver’s cabin. The police handed over the case to the Department of Revenue Investigation.

Acting on intelligence that illegal foreign currency was being smuggled to China via the Rasuwagadhi border crossing, the police stopped the truck in Tokha at 11 p.m. and took control of the vehicle. Lama remains in police custody. According to Bhatta, Lama was merely a courier and the entire amount belonged to Poudel.

In his initial statement, Lama claimed that two unidentified individuals had asked him to transport the US dollars and euros to Kerung via Rasuwagadhi. Lama was previously arrested five years ago for attempting to smuggle 7 kg of illegal gold and was released from Nakkhu Prison in January 2022. He is currently the only person arrested in this case.

Police sources confirmed that four individuals, including Lama, were arrested in the earlier gold smuggling case. At the time, investigators suspected he was acting as a courier, but they could not determine the true owner of the gold.

Nepal Police has now issued an arrest warrant for Poudel and has intensified its investigation. "We are close to success and will soon apprehend the owner of the Rs 250 million," said a senior police officer.