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| Kathmandu, Sunday March 09, 2003 Falgun 25, 2059. |
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Police confiscates illegally
imported vehicles
Post Report
BHAIRAHAWA, March 8 : Rupandehi police has
confiscated over two dozen vehicles including two- wheelers, which were smuggled in and
being operated in the country illegally. All these vehicles have been handed over to the
Bhairahawa customs for legal investigation.
According to the police, it has handed-over 20
vehicles and 5 motorcycles to the Bhairahawa customs during the last 11 months. These
vehicles are said to value over Rs 7.07 million.
The police confiscated vehicles include 14
jeeps, 2 cars, 2 Tata Sumo, 2 van and 1 truck. These are identified to have stolen in
India, smuggled in the country and were operated under the old Nepali number plate
illegally.
"Most of the confiscated vehicles were
found to have been brought into the country over four years back, registered in the Butwal
Transportation Office and were being operated in Bhairahawa, Butwal, Nawalparasi and
Kapilvastu, among others," said Maya Kumar Shah, Deputy Superintendent of Police.
He cited that the police have been successful in
confiscating a large number of smuggled vehicles and handing these over to the customs
office. However, the customs have been finding difficulty in disposing such vehicles.
Officials at the Bhairahawa customs stated that
most of the vehicles handed over by the police have not been auctioned. The police have
handed over 180 vehicles from Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi districts to the
customs office since last two years.
"But only 80 vehicles have been auctioned
as of now," according to the customs officials. They argue that people’s
preference for not buying the old and illegally run stolen vehicles was the major reason
behind the failure in disposing these.
Meanwhile, Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs’
Association (NTEA) has been urging the administration to hand over these vehicles to their
respective owners on a meager fine. "As most of these vehicles are owned by commoner
and low profiled persons, the customs should hand it back to them after charging a minimal
fine," NTEA officials argue.
The customs officials, however, argue that if
all the vehicles are to be auctioned it would fetch over Rs 40 million to the government.
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