Nepal emerges as a transit route for smuggling watermelon kernels into India
Summary
Nepal is increasingly used as a transit route for smuggling watermelon kernels into India, exploiting low customs tariffs to bring in large quantities before moving them across the porous border.
Key Points
- Nepal has become a transit route for smuggling watermelon kernels into India, exploiting low customs tariffs to evade duties.
- Police seized large quantities of watermelon seeds from various districts including Jhapa, Rautahat, and Sarlahi in recent operations.
- Imported watermelon kernels are misdeclared as agricultural seeds to avoid higher customs tariffs and then smuggled into India.
- Authorities in Nepal's border provinces are intensifying anti-smuggling operations to curb the illegal trade exploiting Nepal-India's open border.
