Apr 09, Kathmandu - The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case in a special court against 29 individuals, including former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, over a gold smuggling ring linked to electronic cigarettes (Vape) at Tribhuvan International Airport.

According to the CIAA, Mahara, while holding public office, pressured customs officials at the airport to release the smuggled goods by leveraging his influence. The case also implicates his son Rahul Mahara and other associates.

The agency has claimed that the accused caused a loss of approximately 70 million Nepali Rupees to the state exchequer through this illegal activity.

The investigation revealed that in Magh 2079, a Chinese national concealed nearly 9 kilograms of gold inside 730 Vape devices and attempted to smuggle it into Nepal. Although customs officials seized the gold during inspection, it was later reported stolen, exposing a broader smuggling network.

Further inquiries uncovered that Mahara and his son repeatedly contacted customs officials to facilitate the release of the confiscated goods, highlighting the involvement of high-level figures in the scandal.

This case is considered one of the most high-profile gold smuggling incidents in Nepal, with authorities now intensifying legal actions due to the alleged participation of prominent individuals.