KATHMANDU – Three women from Uzbekistan were arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Wednesday night after attempting to smuggle 3.745 kilograms of gold into Nepal, authorities said.

The suspects had arrived on a Fly Dubai flight, according to Lalbabu Subedi, spokesperson for the TIA Security Office. They were part of a four-member group, which also included one man, but no gold was found in his possession. Authorities believe the group may have been operating together.

Suspicious behavior prompted airport security to conduct an X-ray scan, revealing irregularities. The women were subsequently taken to Kathmandu Medical College for a video X-ray, which confirmed the presence of gold concealed in pellet form inside their bodies.

The gold has been seized, and the investigation is ongoing.