Jun 05, Kathmandu - In a bid to uncover allegations of customs evasion involving BYD electric vehicles, a monitoring team from the central government has been dispatched to Mustang. The team includes the Deputy Secretary of the Customs Department, the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and two other officials from the department, who have reached the Coral Customs Office in Mustang.

The investigation follows reports that, before the budget announcement, CIMEX INC., Nepal’s official BYD dealer, imported a large number of electric vehicles after receiving information that taxes on electric vehicles would increase. The company reportedly cleared 649 vehicles through customs over two days, on Jestha 12 and 13, and also imported 472 vehicles through the Rasuwagadhi border.

The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with accusations that the company leaked information from government agencies to evade billions of rupees in customs duties. In response, a joint investigation committee has been formed under the special directive of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Customs Department, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force.

To further probe the matter, the monitoring team was dispatched to Mustang on Friday, according to Customs Chief Bidur Chudal.