Gyanendra paid no customs tax before the government's recent moves to strip him of most of his powers, and the duty was levied as part of a move to treat the monarch like a "normal citizen," officials said on Friday.

"The customs office at the Tribhuvan International Airport charged a total of 130,893 rupees (1,817 dollars) as duty and tax to release 50 torches and a hunting trophy," said Lok Darshan Regmi, administrative chief at the airport customs department.

The torches were sent from the United States in the name of the king while the hunting trophy came from Austria in the crown prince's name, he said.

"Palace officials took away the parcel after paying the amount Wednesday. We imposed the tax according to the law," said Regmi.

The Nepal government also plans to seize lands owned by King Gyanendra and other royal family members and distribute them to the poor.

The monarch, traditionally revered as the incarnation of a Hindu god, seized power in 2005 in what he said was a bid to end a deadly decade-old Maoist revolt.

Earlier this year he restored parliament after political parties and Maoists formed an alliance and staged huge pro-democracy demonstrations. Since then, the king has been relieved of many powers, including control of the army.

The Maoists are now set to enter mainstream politics under a peace deal with the ruling political coalition that provides for an elected special assembly to write a new constitution deciding the monarchy's fate, among other things.