Kathmandu-BYD electric cars are now being cleared through the red line custom channels due to irregularities detected in car imports.

BYD’s authorized distributor in Nepal, Cimex Inc, accused of tax evasion and charging repair costs near the price of a new vehicle, has recently been importing SIM cards illegally.

Cimex Inc imports BYD electric cars and spare parts from China. Previously, BYD vehicles were cleared through the green line, but recently, they’ve been cleared through the red line custom channels.

Customs clearance notices indicate that most BYD vehicles are now cleared through the red line, while some are cleared through the yellow line.

Goods from companies that don’t engage in tax evasion, operate legally, and aren’t involved in suspicious activities are cleared through the green line.

Suspicious goods are cleared through the yellow line, and those cleared through the red line are under regular customs monitoring.

BYD vehicles are now under customs surveillance like those imported through the red line.

Cimex has had consignments seized multiple times after importing 50 or 100 chargers and toolboxes with a single car.

Each vehicle is supposed to have only one charger and one tool box, but Cimex has been placing chargers for sale inside the vehicles to evade customs duties.

As a result, the Rasuwa Customs Office has repeatedly seized these chargers and toolboxes and auctioned them.

To regulate imports, the Department of Customs has established three clearance channels: green, yellow, and red.

Goods cleared through the green lane are generally not considered suspicious, as the customs system assumes they’re not linked to smuggling or tax evasion.

Consequently, goods cleared through the green lane face fewer spot checks.

Goods cleared through the yellow lane are subject to regular spot checks by customs offices. If irregularities are found, the concerned importer and the goods are placed in the red line.

Goods cleared through the red lane undergo full inspection before clearance.

The Department of Customs classifies such goods as high risk for tax evasion and smuggling. For these companies, the department selects samples from their documents and recommends them annually for investigation.

On September 28, 2025, Cimex Inc cleared 25 BYD Sealion 7 electric cars through the red line at the Mustang Customs Office.

On May 23, 2025, the Rasuwa Customs Office cleared 50 BYD Dolphin cars, 50 AC and DC chargers, and 50 SIM cards through the red line.

Recently, BYD distributor Cimex Inc has been importing and selling active SIM cards from China as if it were an authorized seller. These SIM cards are being imported at abnormal prices.

Cimex is sending 2,300 Chinese yuan to China for a single SIM card. Using an import permit issued for GSM devices obtained by a third party, Cimex has been illegally importing and selling active SIM cards of China Mobile Hong Kong.