April 4: Local poultry farmers of Chitwan have confiscated frost chicken meat and fish worth Rs 4 million in Sunwal. The meat were being imported to Nepal from India illegally through Sunwal checkpoint in Chitwan.

A container truck with Indian registration number 70 BT 1776 carrying the frost chicken meat and fish had reportedly entered Sunwal checkpoint illegally by avoiding the customs and veterinary quarantine departments.  The truck was impounded by the locals with the help of Maoist Center cadres from Ramnagar, Bharatpur Metropolitan Municipality on Sunday, April 1.

Acting on a tip off, the locals confiscated the meat weighing about 10 tons.

Local poultry farmers in Chitwan had intercepted the truck which was transporting the meat to Kathmandu with duplicated name of Gagan Suppliers from Bhairahawa, informed Trilochan Kadel, chairman of Chitwan Egg Producers Association.

The detained truck has been handed to the District Police Office, Chitwan. Local police reported that the confiscated meat were hidden under fish, beans and potato chips.

Tika Pokhrel, chairman of Nepal Poultry Council reported that the meat were tested by plant quarantine rather than veterinary quarantine and were illegally transported in collusion with government officials.

“After investigation, we were only able to find the truck’s destination –Kathmandu. The owner has not been identified yet,” said DSP Shiva Sharma of District Police Office, Chitwan. 

The driver and helper are under police custody for further investigation.