The imposter, Kishun Dhoj Karki, and his accomplice were found in possession of three kg of hashish, the Nepalese-language Himalayan Times said.

``Karki and his friend had gone to Australia via Bangkok but they were arrested at Hyde Park Plaza in Sydney,'' the anti-drug law implementation unit chief and superintendent of police Keshav Baral told the paper.

``How is it possible that the immigration officials believed Karki was the Finance Minister himself? It is not possible not to recongnise the Finance Minister as he is a very well-known face in Nepal.''

``It is amazing how the accused managed to go through the VIP bay carrying a diplomatic passport at the Tribhuvan International Airport,'' the anti-drug law implementation unit chief and SP said.

The real Finance Minister told thepaper that he remained in Kathmandu and that he had not lost his passport.

``Police and the foreign ministry have also sought my explanation,'' Mahat said.