The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 1.3 kg of gold biscuits valued at Rs 1.8 crore in a suspected smuggling operation in which the precious metal was allegedly concealed on luggage trolleys to evade customs checks by using unsuspecting passengers as unwitting carriers.
According to the details of the operation, two accused allegedly brought the gold from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and stuck the biscuits to luggage trolleys. The alleged plan was to let unsuspecting passengers collect the trolleys and cross customs before retrieving the concealed gold.
The accused reportedly followed the passengers and planned to recover the gold later, without the travellers knowing they were being used to transport smuggled valuables.
Acting on intelligence inputs, DRI officials seized the gold. The investigation is expected to examine the suspected smuggling network and the methods allegedly used to move the precious metal through customs using unsuspecting travellers.
The seizure comes amid a series of operations by the agency targeting the smuggling of narcotics and high-value commodities.
On October 4, the DRI seized a cumulative 15.59 kg of narcotic drugs, including amphetamine, cocaine and heroin, in three intelligence-led operations. Five people were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the Finance Ministry said.
In one of the operations, the DRI, working with the Central Bureau of Narcotics, intercepted a car suspected of carrying amphetamine near the Ujjain-Dewas Toll Plaza in Madhya Pradesh. The driver allegedly broke through a barricade and fled, triggering a pursuit lasting around 1.5 hours. Officers eventually intercepted the vehicle near Bicholi Mardana in Indore and recovered the contraband concealed inside a spare tyre mounted on the rear door of the vehicle.
Earlier, on October 2, the DRI’s Mumbai Zonal Unit dismantled an alleged international syndicate involved in smuggling 8.5 kg of gold worth Rs 12.65 crore into India and trafficking 1,168 carats of diamonds valued at Rs 1.09 crore to Dubai through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Eight people were arrested in that case.
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