The owner of foreign currency worth approximately Rs250 million, seized in the Tokha area on March 17, has been identified as Narayan Paudel.

According to the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI), the money, consisting of US dollars and euros, belongs to Paudel, a resident of Tokha Municipality-10, Mahadevtar, who originally hails from Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-4 in Sindhupalchok.

Chandi Prasad Ghimire, the director general of the department, confirmed that their investigations have clearly pointed to Paudel as the main owner of the currency.

“Based on mobile calls, movements of the vehicle carrying the money, and other confidential information received from various sources, we have identified the owner,” Ghimire said, adding that an arrest warrant had been issued for Paudel on Sunday.

In addition to identifying the person, the department conducted a search of his residence in Kathmandu, where evidence suggesting that he had attempted to hide incriminating materials was found.

The foreign currency was discovered in a truck, which allegedly headed for China under the pretext of purchasing clothes. The vehicle’s driver, Kusang Lama, was arrested on March 18 and handed over to the DRI.