Nepal Implements Strict Customs Enforcement at India Border, Sparking Local Outcry

Kathmandu. Customs administration and security agencies have become significantly stricter at the Nepal-India open border crossings. Targeting ordinary citizens who previously enjoyed informal customs exemptions for small purchases and household items, the government has begun strictly enforcing a rule requiring mandatory customs duties on any goods valued over 100 rupees.

From Jhapa in the east to Kanchanpur in the west, major and secondary customs points are seeing widespread crackdowns in the name of controlling customs evasion. Specifically, the activity of the Armed Police Force and customs officials has surged at border points like Kakarbhitta, Bhadrapur, and the Phareniya area in Rupandehi.