Police seize 6,00,000 surgical masks from Satungal

KATHMANDU, March 16: Police have seized 6,00,000 sets of surgical masks from Bishnudevi of Chandragiri Municipality-10 on Sunday.

The seized masks were hidden in 175 sacks in a storeroom at the house of Satungal’s Rohit Shrestha, according to District Administration Office chief Janak Raj Dahal.

Since Saturday, the police have seized more than 8,00,000 pieces of masks and held six black marketeers.

Earlier, the police had seized 1, 68,000 masks from Kapan and 78,000 masks from Dallu and arrested four persons including two Indian nationals.

The fear of the spread of coronavirus has resulted in a shortage of protective masks across the country.

Due to the shortage, the masks which usually cost Rs 5 per piece, are sold at Rs 20 to Rs 50.

According to investigation officers, the black marketeers have created an artificial shortage hiding the masks.