SSB nabs 2 Nepalese nationals with undeclared gold, silver at India-Nepal border
Synopsis
The SSB's Border Intelligence Team intercepted a Nepal-registered car at the New Mechi Bridge near Siliguri and recovered undeclared gold bars, ornaments, and silver from two Nepalese nationals — one of them a 68-year-old from Kathmandu. Authorities are now checking whether any seized items are antiques, adding a fresh dimension to a smuggling corridor that has seen a string of high-profile catches in recent months.
Key Takeaways
The SSB 41st Battalion's BIT intercepted a Maruti Suzuki WagonR at New Mechi Bridge, Panitanki on Sunday afternoon .
Seized items include a gold bar, chains, pendants, bangles, a bracelet , and silver bars and clubs .
Detainees identified as Bharat Kumar Agrawal (68) of Kathmandu and Rajesh Oli (48) of Jhapa, Nepal.
Both failed to declare items at the border customs post and could not provide supporting documents.
Case handed to the Customs Office, Panitanki under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962 .
Authorities are examining whether seized ornaments have antique value , given known antiquity smuggling on this route.
Two Nepalese nationals were apprehended by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) with undeclared gold and silver items while crossing into India from Nepal at the New Mechi Bridge near Panitanki, Siliguri in West Bengal on Sunday afternoon. The interception was carried out by the Border Intelligence Team (BIT) of the 41st Battalion, SSB, during routine checks on the border crossing.
What Was Seized
The BIT flagged a Maruti Suzuki WagonR travelling from Nepal to India and subjected it to baggage screening. Officers recovered gold and silver in multiple forms — including a gold bar, chains, pendants, bangles, and a bracelet, along with silver bars and clubs, according to a senior official.
'During baggage screening, the team detected and recovered gold and silver items in the form of bars and various ornaments. There was a gold bar, chains, pendants, bangles and a bracelet. There were also silver bars and clubs,' the official said.
Who Was Detained
The two occupants of the vehicle were identified as Bharat Kumar Agrawal (68), a resident of Indrachowk, Kathmandu, Nepal, from whose baggage the items were seized, and Rajesh Oli (48), from Jhapa, Nepal, who was driving the car. Neither could produce documents nor offer any explanation for failing to declare the items at the border customs post.
Authorities are additionally examining whether any of the ornaments recovered from Agrawal carry antique value, given that smuggling of antiquities out of Nepal is a known concern along this corridor.
Legal Action Initiated
The two detained individuals, the vehicle, and all seized items have been handed over to the Customs Office at Panitanki under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, for further legal proceedings.
A Persistent Smuggling Corridor
The India-Nepal border remains a well-documented route for undeclared gold smuggling, largely because citizens of both countries enjoy free transit across the open border — a privilege that is frequently exploited by smugglers. This is not an isolated case; the SSB's 41st Battalion has logged several significant seizures over recent months.
These include large amounts of cash being moved into Nepal by Indian nationals, the detention of a Bangladeshi national attempting to enter India from Nepal without valid documents, and narcotics seizures. Notably, SSB personnel recently prevented a trafficking attempt and rescued a 17-year-old girl from Jalpaiguri who was being transported across the border into Nepal, leading to the arrest of one person linked to the racket.
With border agencies stepping up intelligence-led operations, the New Mechi Bridge crossing is under heightened surveillance — and Sunday's seizure signals that scrutiny at this corridor is only intensifying.
Point of View
Narcotics, trafficking attempts, and now bullion — suggests the battalion is operating with sharper intelligence inputs, but structural reform at the customs interface, not just reactive interceptions, is what would move the needle on border smuggling.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two Nepalese nationals arrested by the SSB?
They were identified as Bharat Kumar Agrawal, 68, a resident of Indrachowk in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Rajesh Oli, 48, from Jhapa, Nepal, who was driving the vehicle. Gold and silver items were recovered from Agrawal's baggage.
Where exactly did the SSB make this gold and silver seizure?
The seizure took place at the New Mechi Bridge near Panitanki in Siliguri, West Bengal, a key crossing point on the India-Nepal border. The interception was carried out by the Border Intelligence Team of the SSB's 41st Battalion.
What items were recovered from the detained Nepalese nationals?
Officers recovered a gold bar, chains, pendants, bangles, and a bracelet, along with silver bars and clubs — all undeclared at the border customs post. Authorities are also assessing whether any of the ornaments carry antique value.
What legal action has been taken after the seizure?
The two detainees, their vehicle, and all seized items have been handed over to the Customs Office at Panitanki under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, for further legal proceedings.
Why is the India-Nepal border a common route for gold smuggling?
Citizens of both India and Nepal enjoy free transit across the open border, a privilege that smugglers exploit to move undeclared goods without standard customs checks. This makes the corridor one of the more frequently used channels for undeclared gold and other contraband entering India.
