Kathmandu: The Armed Police Force (APF) has officially released a large shipment of BYD electric vehicles that had been detained for two weeks in Mustang district.
According to the APF No. 33 Battalion in Jomsom, the Chinese-made EVs, which were held at both the Jomsom and Korala border points, were cleared for departure starting Sunday evening.
The shipment, totalling 775 electric vehicles, entered Nepal through the northern Korala border crossing during the final weeks of May. While the Nechung Customs Office in Mustang had already completed the clearance process for 649 of these units, the entire fleet was intercepted by the APF. This seizure followed specific directives from Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who is also currently overseeing the Ministry of Home Affairs, due to suspicions regarding potential irregularities in the import documentation and valuation process.
The vehicles were imported into the country by Simon Inc. To determine whether any discrepancies existed, the Ministry of Finance formed a three-member investigation committee led by Bhupal Raj Shakya, a Director at the Customs Department’s Valuation Branch. The committee was tasked with conducting a thorough review of the import procedures to ensure full compliance with national regulations.
The government-appointed probe team began its field investigation on June 3, conducting on-site inspections of the vehicles stationed across Kaski, Parbat, and Mustang. According to the committee’s preliminary report, the investigation concluded that no legal or procedural faults were found in the importation of these electric vehicles through the Korala border.
During the two-week detention period, the APF had secured 98 vehicles in Hemja, Kaski, and 17 in Kushma, Parbat. In Mustang, 266 vehicles were held in Jomsom after being brought down from Lomanthang, while another 394 units remained at the Korala border crossing.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bheshraj Giri of the APF No. 33 Battalion confirmed that the vehicles were handed back to the authorized representatives on Sunday evening. He stated that the release was carried out following central instructions from the APF headquarters once the investigation cleared the shipment of any wrongdoing.
The vehicles had remained under guard for fourteen days while authorities verified the import details. Following the clearance, DSP Giri noted that the vehicles have now begun their journey toward their final destinations. The movement of the fleet is currently underway, marking the end of the temporary hold on the Chinese-manufactured EVs.
Of the 266 vehicles parked at the Jomsom bus park, 223 had already departed between Sunday and Monday. APF records indicate that only 43 vehicles currently remain at the Jomsom site as they prepare to move out.
Furthermore, the APF No. 33 Battalion reported that the vehicles at the Korala border, which have already cleared customs, are being moved out gradually. For the remaining units still awaiting customs processing, authorities confirmed that there are no further obstacles to their movement once the necessary legal formalities are completed.
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