Smuggling on the rise in Siraha

Siraha, May 12

Smuggling of goods and commodities from India has increased in Siraha of late.

According to local businessmen, goods are smuggled to Nepal from India in collusion with the customs staffers and police.

A trader in Lahan said smugglers brought goods from India to Nepal using alternative roads evading customs duty. “Many traders prefer to buy goods from smugglers as they get them at cheaper prices. Local traders have been compelled to pay double customs duty in India and Nepal,” he added.

Siraha District Customs Office Chief Mohan Bahadur Poudel said revenue collection at the customs office had been adversely hit due to increased smuggling. “We have seized a large amount of goods being smuggled to Nepal through alternative routes in the last few months, but no one has come to the office to claim the goods,” Poudel said.