Kathmandu. The weight of the gold seized by the police from Budhanilkantha Municipality-2, Upper Bhangal on Thursday was 21.750.68 grams. At a press conference organized by the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office today, it was informed that the current market value of the gold is Rs 546 million 7 thousand 320.

A team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office recovered the gold from a house rented by a Chinese national in Upper Bhangal on Thursday afternoon. Three Chinese nationals have been arrested in connection with the incident. The arrested have been identified as Han Fei, 27, Zhou Longqing and Chu Can.

According to Santosh Khadka, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and chief of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, the house was rented by the group involved in the gold smuggling since July last year. The monthly rent of the house was fixed at Rs 3.30 lakh. According to the preliminary investigation, the smuggling group had paid four months’ rent to the landlord in advance.

According to the police, the smuggling gang has been found bringing gold in semi-solid state and processing it at Budhanilkantha’s house to make biscuit-shaped stacks.

The police have also seized a high-temperature furnace, digital scales, various machines and equipment used in gold processing. Senior Superintendent of Police Khadka said that the BYD vehicle used in the gold smuggling was also impounded.

According to the police, the Chinese nationals were taken into custody when they were coming out in a vehicle with the processed gold. Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was being used by the smuggling group on rent. The police said that the arrested persons along with the seized gold, vehicle and other items are being investigated by initiating necessary legal procedures.