Vijayawada, October 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted an alleged gold smuggling network operating along the Bangladesh-Kolkata-Hyderabad route, seizing foreign-origin gold and foreign currency worth approximately Rs 5.84 crore near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh and arresting five people.
The operation was jointly conducted by officials of the DRI Hyderabad Unit and the Vijayawada Regional Unit, the agency said on Wednesday.
Acting on intelligence inputs about a gang allegedly smuggling gold from Bangladesh to Hyderabad via Kolkata, DRI officials intercepted an SUV on the outskirts of Vijayawada. They recovered foreign currency concealed in a secret cavity in the vehicle.
The seized items included 3,147.1 grams of gold, USD 60,000 and 21,500 euros, with a combined value of approximately Rs 5.84 crore.
According to the agency, the two occupants of the SUV admitted to having delivered the gold and said the seized foreign currency represented part of the proceeds from its sale.
Acting on information provided by the two men, officials intercepted a bus travelling towards Hyderabad and arrested three more individuals. The trio were allegedly carrying three gold bars weighing approximately 3.1 kilograms, concealed in pouches tied around their waists.
All five accused, allegedly involved in procuring and transporting the gold, were arrested and produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody.
The DRI said further investigation into the case was underway.
This is the second such operation conducted by the agency in Andhra Pradesh this month.
In an earlier operation, DRI officials seized foreign-origin gold worth Rs 8.98 crore near Visakhapatnam and arrested two people. The gold was allegedly being transported from Kolkata to Hyderabad in a car, with the metal concealed beneath a seat.
According to the agency, officials pursued and searched the vehicle on the night of October 8-9, recovering 5,832.90 grams of gold with an estimated market value of Rs 8.98 crore.
The gold had allegedly been smuggled into India through the India-Bangladesh border before being transported towards Hyderabad.
The recovered gold was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The two passengers were arrested and produced before the jurisdictional magistrate, who remanded them to judicial custody.
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