November 14, 2023
Residents in villages along the India-Nepal border are smuggling rice into Nepal to earn money. Young unemployed individuals act as carriers for local smugglers and deliver rice to warehouses set up by Nepali traders. Despite efforts to curb smuggling, more than 111.2 tonnes of rice have been seized in the last four months. The ban on rice exports by the Indian government has caused rice prices in Nepal to surge, creating a profitable opportunity for smugglers. The increase in smuggling has also led to higher rice prices in the local market.