KATHMANDU, Dec 23: Police on Monday arrested 122 Chinese nationals who were found to be staying illegally in Kathmandu.

A joint team deployed from Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) and Metropolitan Police Range apprehended them from Gongabu and Thamel areas during a raid on Monday afternoon. The arrested Chinese citizens were found to be overstaying their visas.

According to the chief at MPCD Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sahakul Thapa, they were found to have been involved in different professions including hotel, agriculture, and ICT.

"We arrested them as their visa term has already expired. They have been taken to Metropolitan Police Range, Teku for further investigation," Thapa said adding that they were involved in various crimes in recent days.

"We have launched an investigation into the case,” said SSP Thapa.

Earlier this afternoon, police initially said that 72 Chinese nationals were arrested after they were found to have overstayed their visas. However, the number of arrestees increased as more Chinese were found to have been involved in similar activities.