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Chinese BYD electric vehicles imported into Nepal and left stranded along the Jomsom and Korala checkpoints on the Nepal–China border over suspected irregularities in import procedures have now been granted permission to proceed to their destinations.

The Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal’s Company 33, Jomsom, said the vehicles were released on Sunday and subsequently handed over to the respective parties.

A total of 775 electric vehicles were imported into Nepal via the Korala checkpoint during the last week of May and the first week of June. Of them, the Mustang Customs Office in Nechung carried out customs clearance of 649 vehicles. The APF later took the vehicles under control, suspecting irregularities in the import process.

All the electric vehicles were purchased in China by Simon Electric.

The Ministry of Finance formed a three-member committee coordinated by the chief of the Evaluation Section under the Policy and Operations Division of the Department of Customs, Bhupal Raj Shakya, to investigate the matter. The team, which conducted on-site monitoring, presented a preliminary conclusion ruling out the possibility of irregularities in the import of the vehicles.

The vehicles were handed over to the respective parties on Sunday evening, said APF Deputy Superintendent of Police Bheshraj Giri.