Aagya Khabar
Sarlahi
At the Malangwa Customs Office in Sarlahi, dozens of confiscated vehicles have been left abandoned in the open for years, deteriorating under harsh weather conditions. Motorcycles and four-wheelers seized by security forces over time are now rusting away due to delays in the auction process, rendering many of them unusable.
The vehicles, parked within the customs premises, are covered in rust and overgrown with weeds. A quick glance reveals the staggering revenue loss the government is incurring—these once-operational vehicles, had they been auctioned in time, could have brought in millions in state revenue.
Local resident Shyam Kumar Sah stated, “These vehicles were in decent condition when first confiscated, but negligence by the customs office has turned them into scrap. If the auction process had moved forward in time, the state could have earned significant revenue. Now, it’s just a loss.”
Vehicles used for smuggling, fake license plates, or illegal cross-border transport are commonly seized by law enforcement and handed over to the customs office. Most of these, according to customs officials, originate from India.
According to Thakur Acharya, Chief of the Sarlahi Customs Office, three auction attempts were made in the fiscal year 2081/82 (2024/25), but none succeeded due to various issues. “Now, we are at a point where we need to build a protective structure (shed) just to preserve the vehicles. We have requested a budget for that this fiscal year,” Acharya said.
However, locals see things differently. They claim that the customs office lacks both interest and transparency in handling the auction process. As a result, valuable government assets are being lost while the customs administration appears indifferent.
While some vehicles are on hold pending final court verdicts, many have already cleared legal hurdles. Yet, they remain stuck, awaiting a sluggish auction process.
Analysts warn that if timely action isn’t taken, the revenue system will continue to suffer. The current situation—marked by bureaucratic inertia and poor coordination—is leading to the outright destruction of public property.
