The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office (KVCIO) and local police forces have seized 1,176 hoarded LPG cylinders across Kathmandu Valley during targeted market operations conducted over the last two days.
The crackdown targets unscrupulous traders and middlemen who hid cooking gas inventory to exploit consumers during the current supply crunch caused by recent highway disruptions. According to police officials, merchants in areas like Narephat, Samakhushi, and Bhaktapur were caught creating artificial shortages and selling standard cylinders for up to Rs 2,800—significantly above the fixed retail price.
Multiple business operators were arrested on black-market charges. Authorities confirmed that the confiscated cylinders are being redirected to local administration distribution teams to be sold directly to everyday households at standard prices under police supervision.