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Armed Police Force personnel stand near electric vehicles seized for investigation in Mustang. Photo: Sundar Kumar Thakali / RSS

Authorities have released hundreds of BYD electric vehicles that had been seized by the Armed Police Force (APF) for the past two weeks over suspected import irregularities through the Korala border point in Mustang.

According to APF's No. 33 Battalion in Jomsom, the vehicles were released from Sunday evening after a preliminary investigation found no discrepancies in the import process.

A total of 775 BYD electric vehicles entered Nepal through the northern Korala border during the second and third weeks of May, of which 649 had completed customs clearance at the Mustang Customs Office in Nechung. The vehicles were imported by Simon Inc.

The Ministry of Finance had formed a three-member committee led by Bhupal Raj Shakya, Director of the Valuation Division under the Department of Customs, to investigate the matter. Following field inspections in Mustang, Kaski and Parbat, the committee reportedly concluded that no irregularities were found in the imports.

Earlier, the APF had seized 98 vehicles in Hemja, Kaski, 17 in Kushma, Parbat, and another 660 vehicles in Mustang, including 266 in Jomsom and 394 at Korala.

APF Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhesh Raj Giri said all seized vehicles had been handed over to the concerned parties following directives from APF headquarters. Of the 266 vehicles parked at the Jomsom bus park, 223 had already departed for their destinations by Monday, with only 43 remaining.