Chinese nationals found in possession of Nepali Citizenship & Passport, including Dawa Tshering

KATHMANDU: Seven Chinese people have been found to have Nepalese citizenship, including Dawa Tshering, a Belgian citizen of Tibetan descent who was arrested in connection with the smuggling of around 60 kg of gold confiscated on Shrawan 3.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) regained their Nepalese citizenship and passport.

According to the CIB, the seven suspects received Nepali citizenship and passports from the Kavrepalanchowk district administration office.

The police arrested four Chinese nationals in the case of gold smuggling from Kathmandu last Wednesday. Those arrested were Tian Ping, Wen Tong, Diang Se Fa and Li Nengkai. Those arrested were one woman and three men.

Similarly, on Thursday evening, the CIB apprehended Pucheng, who is claimed to be the main ringleader in the gold case, from Singha Durbar. Similarly, Lee Weng Sung was apprehended by authorities in Lainchaur on Thursday evening.

According to the Revenue Investigation Department, these are the primary gang members of the Chinese gold smuggling.

The accused in the gold case obtained Nepali citizenship and a passport from the Kavre administration in 2021 and 22.

The CIB is also preparing to send a letter to the district administration office to inquire further about the Chinese obtaining Nepali passports and citizenship.

Dawa Lama, who obtained Nepalese citizenship after marrying a Nepalese woman, was granted Belgian citizenship. The Revenue Investigation Department apprehended him.

Similarly, in the gold case, taxi driver Ashok Lama, customs agent Rajendra Rai, Dilip Bhujel, owner of Ready Trade, Dilip’s uncle Ramkumar Bhujel and Harkaraj Rai, who made Dilip open the company, and Indian citizen of Tibetan origin Thupten Chiring, Chinese citizen Jiquan Lin, cargo company owners Rajan Shrestha, Krishna Shrestha, Puskarraj Bhatt, Customs officer Santosh Chand, X-ray operator Saroj Shrestha and Kumar Dhakal involved in customs inspection were arrested.

Customs agents Yadav Shankar Parajuli, Sudarshan Gautam, and Rukmina Subba were also detained for assisting in the passage of illicit gold through customs.