Oct 12, Kathmandu - Police have handed over 21.75 kilograms of gold seized from three Chinese nationals to Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office for further investigation and legal action.

Senior Superintendent of Police Santosh Khadka of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office said the three suspects were sent to the customs office along with the gold. Police are continuing their own investigation to identify possible links in the case, with a team assigned to examine all aspects, he said.

On Ashwin 22, the office seized 21 kilograms and 750.68 grams of gold from a house in Upper Bhangal, Budhanilkantha. Based on the market price on the day of the seizure, the gold was valued at Rs 546,007,320.

The haul included gold pieces, biscuit-shaped bars and gold in a paste-like form.

The suspects are Han Fei, 27, Zhou Longxin, 47, and Wang Jianzheng, 37, all from China. Police allege they rented an entire house and operated a gold-processing facility there. Investigators suspect the gold was smuggled into Nepal by air.