PARSA, Sept 23: Authorities have stepped up security checks at the Birgunj Customs point after revenue collection in the first two months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) fell short of target.
The customs office had set a target of Rs 43.03 billion in revenue for Shrawan and Bhadra (mid-July to mid-September), but collected only Rs 39.15 billion, achieving 90.99 percent of the goal. In response, security agencies have intensified monitoring to curb revenue leakage from smuggling.
Chief Customs Officer Bishnu Prasad Gyawali said both the Armed Police Force (APF) and Nepal Police have been mobilised along the border. APF personnel have been deployed at the frontlines, while Nepal Police form a secondary security cordon.
Birgunj Customs Office collects only 60 percent of 11-month rev...
Commonly smuggled items include high-value consumer goods such as readymade garments, fabrics, footwear, bed sheets, curtains, and dried fish, along with mobile phones, kitchenware, bathroom fittings, hardware supplies, and painting materials. Other goods reported to be entering unlawfully include bicycles, motorcycle parts, electrical appliances, and vehicle components.
Hari Prasad Sharma, chief of the Revenue Investigation Office in Pathlaiya, warned of a growing trend of undocumented imports. In some cases, he said, Indian nationals have been misusing the citizenship papers of economically vulnerable Nepalis to establish firms engaged in cross-border smuggling.
Smuggling hotspots have been identified in Alau, Amarpatti, Bhiswa, Sirsiya, and Janakitole of Parsa, where traders are found under-declaring the value, price, or quantity of goods to evade taxes.
Despite these challenges, District Police Office spokesperson Kishor Lamsal said effective countermeasures are underway to control illicit trade.
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