India and Nepal have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling trans-border crimes and curbing the circulation of counterfeit currency following a high-level bilateral meeting between their customs authorities held in Kathmandu. The discussions, which took place over two days on April 10 and 11, 2025, focused on intensifying collaborative efforts to address smuggling and other illicit activities across their shared border.
Both nations expressed serious concern over the persistent issues of gold smuggling, drug trafficking, and the circulation of fake Indian currency notes (FCN). The open Indo-Nepal border has long posed enforcement challenges, and both delegations acknowledged the need for coordinated and sustained action to address these threats.
In a statement released by India’s Ministry of Finance, officials confirmed that the 21st Director General-level talks on customs cooperation covered a broad range of topics. These included reviewing the progress of existing bilateral initiatives, such as the memorandum of understanding on pre-arrival exchange of customs data and the electronic origin data exchange system (EODES). Discussions also moved forward on finalizing the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA), which aims to enhance legal and operational collaboration between the two countries’ customs departments.
Another key focus of the talks was the enhancement of border infrastructure and the digitization of transit procedures. Both sides discussed the expansion of the electronic cargo tracking system (ECTS), which enables real-time monitoring of goods in transit. The technology is expected to play a vital role in securing the trade corridor and ensuring smoother customs operations.
Officials also exchanged views on a range of illegal cross-border activities involving restricted and prohibited items such as e-cigarettes, e-lighters, and certain agricultural products like garlic. Other issues raised included commercial fraud and the smuggling of high-value or sensitive goods. Both India and Nepal committed to strengthening intelligence sharing and boosting enforcement capabilities to prevent the exploitation of their borders by criminal networks.
The Indian delegation was headed by Abhai Kumar Srivastav, Director General of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, while Mahesh Bhattarai, Director General of Nepal’s Department of Customs, led the Nepali side. Both leaders welcomed the productive nature of the dialogue and emphasized the importance of maintaining regular engagement to address evolving challenges.
Both sides agreed that smuggling and cross-border crime are shared concerns that require joint solutions. The meeting concluded with a mutual pledge to continue improving customs cooperation, reinforce border security, and ensure that trade and travel across the Indo-Nepal corridor remain secure and transparent.
