Four Chinese nationals—including one woman and three men—who were residing in Nepal on business visas but suspected of involvement in illegal activities, were detained today by Nepal’s Department of Immigration. The arrests took place at Milijuli Chowk, Mhaipi, in Sohragutte, Kathmandu, an area commonly known as ‘Chinese Housing’ due to the large concentration of Chinese residents.
According to the Department of Immigration, initial investigations revealed that despite holding business visas, the Chinese nationals were unable to provide any details about their business or the company they claimed to operate. Authorities discovered that they were allegedly luring economically vulnerable Nepali women with job promises, having them create videos for the social media platform TikTok, and using these videos to facilitate introductions for marriage with other Chinese men.
Information obtained by the Department of Immigration indicates that some Nepali women were sent to China under the pretext of marrying Chinese nationals. The group had rented a house in Mhaipi to accommodate the Nepali women, and evidence suggests they used Nepal as a central base for travel to various countries, often taking the women with them.
Two of the detainees had reportedly been living in Nepal for up to ten years on tourist, study, and business visas. During the visa inspection, they failed to produce their passports and visas and reportedly behaved improperly towards immigration officers and security personnel.
According to the Department of Immigration, the suspects have violated Nepal’s immigration laws. Section 6 of the Immigration Act, 2049 (1992), authorizes immigration officials to inspect and seize documents related to the entry, presence, and departure of foreigners at any time or place.
Additionally, the Immigration Regulations, 2051 (1994), prohibit foreigners from engaging in activities other than the specific purpose for which their visa was granted. Legal provisions allow for foreigners found residing illegally or involved in suspicious activities to be fined up to NPR 50,000 (USD 352) by the Director-General and subsequently deported, with or without a ban on re-entering Nepal.
The Department has adopted a clear policy to apprehend and take action under the Immigration Act against foreign nationals involved in suspicious activities or staying in violation of their visa terms. The Department expects this incident to lead to increased monitoring of foreign activities within Nepal, and further investigation into the matter is ongoing.
D. Dhungana
View More PostsDipendra Dhungana is a journalist based in Kathmandu with over a decade of experience in photojournalism. His work has been featured in numerous national and international outlets, showcasing the stories and resilience of the Nepali people. He is also a contributing journalist for NepYork.
