A large gold casting machine has been found in the Kathmandu-based warehouse of Chinese national Zeqiang Lin, who was arrested in the case of 100 kilos of gold from Hong Kong.
When the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) team raided his godown in Baluwatar, they found a gold-casting machine.
According to the DRI sources, the machine found in his godown has more capacity than that of Nepal Rastra Bank. Lin has been running a company in Nepal for a year.
Land and Ocean International Logistics Private Limited was established in his name one year ago.
The DRI team recovered around 100 kilos of gold hidden inside brake shoes while being taken out of the airport in a taxi. The DRI raided the godown of Lin following information that the goods being carried in the taxi would be taken to a Chinese citizen's warehouse.
Additional items were recovered from the warehouse. However, it has not been revealed whether those items were good.
Chinese citizen Lin was arrested at the TIA when he was about to board a flight of Tibet Airlines to China.
He came to Nepal on a business visa and his visa is valid till August 2023.
He also got a visit visa extended three times while staying in Nepal. On September 28, 2022, he obtained a three-month visit visa. Again on March 10, 2023, he stayed in Nepal with a three-month visit visa. He extended a three-month visit visa for the third time on April 16, 2023, and lastly took a three-month business visa on May 11, 2023. That visa is valid until August 9, 2023.
The revenue team has so far arrested 17 people in this case. Among those arrested include Lin, a Chinese citizen, and an Indian citizen of Tibetan origin. Others include immigration department staff and customs agents.
The DRI is confiscating goods by carrying out raids on the houses and godowns of people who are suspected to be involved in the gold case. Rakesh Kumar Adukia's house was raided on Wednesday.
The warehouse of the company Ready Trade, where the gold came from Hong Kong, was also raided on Wednesday evening. As many as 66 cartons of brake shoes have been recovered from the warehouse. The goods have been taken away by the DRI.
