Kathmandu: The Armed Police Force (APF) has intercepted and taken custody of 775 electric vehicles (EVs) that recently entered Nepal via the Korala border crossing with China. These unregistered vehicles, which were being transported without license plates, were impounded during a series of targeted security checks conducted along the highway corridors stretching from Mustang to Kaski.
The massive scale of this seizure has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the upcoming national budget. Authorities suspect that confidential information regarding changes to the tax structure for electric vehicles for the Fiscal Year 2083/84 was leaked to traders before the official budget speech. It is believed that importers exploited this insider information to rush a large volume of vehicles into the country, attempting to clear customs under the current, more favourable tax rates to avoid anticipated hikes.
The operation was launched following specific intelligence indicating a possible collusion between customs officials, clearing agents, and business interest groups. These parties allegedly worked in tandem to fast-track the border clearance process, bypassing standard scrutiny to ensure the vehicles entered the country before the budget was formally presented.
In response to these reports of organised irregularities, the government mobilised security apparatuses to intervene and halt the fleet’s movement.
Currently, all 775 electric vehicles remain under strict police surveillance as the authorities finalize the necessary legal documentation. The Armed Police Force has stated that the entire consignment will soon be handed over to the relevant Customs Office for a more comprehensive investigation. This probe is expected to look into the procedural shortcuts taken during the import and determine the accountability of the officials and traders involved in this suspicious surge of vehicle imports.
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