Seven Arrested with 1,620 Vapes Worth NPR 5.67 Million from Ganjekhola, Sindhupalchok

May 16, Kavrepalanchok – Seven individuals were arrested in possession of 1,620 vapes valued at NPR 5.67 million from Ganjekhola, Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-3, Sindhupalchok. The arrest took place on the night of May 15 at around 9:30 PM during a checkpoint operation led by Police Inspector Jagat Bahadur Rai from the Area Police Office Kodari.

The vapes were reportedly smuggled from China into Nepal through a concealed route near Bhitribato, approximately 10 kilometers from the Araniko Highway via Bhokchen in Bhotekoshi-3. Inspector Rai stated that the vapes were hidden inside nine bags packed within cartons inside a vehicle when the group was apprehended.

According to Rai, those arrested include Ganesh Khadka, 35, Himal Khadka, 46, Vikas Bik, 24, Rambahadur Bik, 48, Vishal Rakpal, 17, Mangal Bahadur Thami, 37, all from Bhotekoshi-4, and Kancha Tamang, 42, from Bahrabise Municipality-5. They have been taken into custody at the Area Police Office Kodari.

At the Nepal-China border in Tatopani, the passenger branch has prohibited the import of any food items for the past month. Following restrictions imposed by the Tatopani Customs Office on importing food and plant quarantine items without proper permits from the Mitareepool passenger branch, local small-scale trade has been severely impacted. Previously, locals used to reach the Chinese market in Jhamu early in the morning and return with bags full of goods by evening, but with the new government regulations, such activity has been curbed.