Six Nepali citizens were arrested by the Indian Border Security Force (SSB) on Saturday evening for allegedly smuggling 960 kilograms of chocolate from India into Nepal. The arrests took place at the Nayaktola area on the India-Nepal border, which lies in India’s East Champaran district, Bihar, bordering Nepal’s Bara district.
The SSB, India’s border security agency, intercepted the six individuals who were carrying 24 sacks of chocolate on six bicycles. A team from E-Company BOP Nayaktola, under the 71st Battalion of the SSB, acted on special intelligence that led to increased surveillance in the border area. The individuals’ activities were deemed suspicious as they attempted to cross into Nepal.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Raju Mahato (40), Ramanand Mahato (48), Surendra Mahato (45), Ramprabesh Mandal (47), Mahendra Mahato (45), and Bikash Kumar Mandal (22). All are residents of Matiarwa, Kalaiya Sub-metropolitan City, Bara district, Nepal.
Following their arrest, the individuals, along with the seized chocolates and bicycles, were handed over to the Motihari Customs Office in India for further investigation and legal proceedings under Indian law.
Border Security Challenges
The incident occurred along the 1,751-kilometer-long open border between Nepal and India, which is frequently exploited for illegal cross-border trade. Smuggling of various goods, including daily consumables, clothing, mobile phones, drugs, and agricultural products, is prevalent due to price disparities and attempts to evade customs duties.
This arrest follows another significant seizure on Saturday, when Amar Chaudhary (39) of Chhapkaiya, Birgunj Metropolitan City, was arrested at the Miteri Bridge, connecting Birgunj and Raxaul, with over 11 kilograms of hashish. Preliminary investigations suggested the hashish originated from Makwanpur and was being transported through Bara and Parsa towards India. The Janakpur Today report noted that this incident raises questions about the effectiveness of security measures on the Nepali side, particularly how such a large quantity of drugs traversed Nepali territory to the border.
Recent Nepal-India border security coordination committee meetings were held in Raxaul, India, on Ashoj 8, 2083 BS (September 25, 2026 AD), and in Jatahi, Dhanusha, Nepal, on Ashoj 16, 2083 BS (October 3, 2026 AD), to address cross-border crime and enhance security.
Next Steps and Unanswered Questions
The Motihari Customs Office will proceed with investigations and legal actions against the arrested individuals, who could face fines or imprisonment under Indian law. The seized items may be auctioned or destroyed according to customs procedures. The SSB has reiterated its commitment to tightening border security to curb illegal activities.
The specific charges against the Nepali citizens, their current judicial status, the detailed reasons behind the chocolate smuggling (e.g., specific brands, price differences, or organized network involvement), and any official reaction from the Nepali government or Indian embassy remain unclear.
