The Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, after monitoring various customs offices from Nepalgunj to Birgunj, has concluded that corruption and mismanagement are widespread.
During the Committee meeting, members reported issues such as poorly managed offices, open borders, lack of inter-agency coordination, rising smuggling activities, and collusion to evade customs duties. The monitoring was conducted from January 24 to 29, with findings discussed on Wednesday.
Lawmaker Padam Giri highlighted the challenges at border customs offices, citing inadequate infrastructure and malfunctioning consignment-checking machines, allegedly disabled intentionally. He pointed to entrenched collusion among government employees, security personnel, customs agents, and traders.
Lawmaker Ganga Karki stressed the need for better technology in customs inspections, while Ranakumari Balampaki Magar questioned why many vehicles remained stranded in customs yards. Juli Kumari Mahato raised concerns about security at customs checkpoints.
Anjali Shrestha alleged that customs staff were involved in deliberately disabling machines during inspections. Committee member Surya Bahadur Thapa acknowledged some improvements in customs administration but emphasized that significant problems persist. Ammar Bahadur Rayamajhi called for increased security personnel at checkpoints, while Tshiring Damdul Lama Bhote noted that large quantities of goods were being smuggled into Nepal without paying taxes.
However, lawmaker Gyanendra Bahadur Karki argued that not all customs officials acted with bad intentions but agreed that further improvements were necessary.
Inspector General of Nepal Police, Basanta Kunwar, reported that tax-evaded goods worth Rs 3 billion had been seized in the current fiscal year. Inspector General of the Armed Police Force, Raju Aryal, estimated that around 1,200 individuals were involved in smuggling activities along Nepal’s borders.
