2 Indian nationals arrested with gold in Nepal

Two Indian nationals were arrested today for allegedly smuggling half a kilogram of gold in a jeep in western Nepal, officials said.

Jitendra Sainik and Suresh Kumar, residents of Haryana, were arrested during checking at Gaddachauki in Bhimdatta Municipality-10 of Nepal's Kanchanpur district, custom officials said.

The gold was being smuggled in a jeep with an Indian number plate and the men were intercepted by the officials following a tip-off as they were on their way to India, The Himalayan Times reported.

The market price of the seized gold, kept in a bag without a label, is around Rs 2.5 million, officials said.

Chief at the customs office in Gaddachauki Madan Dahal said it was not clear where the gold came from, but assumed that it could have come from Kathmandu.

"We are investigating whether it is the work of an organised smuggling group or some businessmen," he said, adding that legal action would be taken against the accused after further investigation.