The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a trans-border gold smuggling syndicate in Delhi. 15 kg gold worth Rs 21.40 crore, hidden in gear parts, was seized. Four people including the mastermind have been arrested in this case.
In a major operation, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths successfully busted a trans-border gold smuggling syndicate operating from Delhi and seized 15 kg of foreign origin smuggled gold worth approximately Rs 21.40 crore.
According to an official release from the Finance Ministry, DRI officials intercepted an international courier consignment from Thailand at the courier terminal in Delhi. This consignment was in the name of a firm linked to a foreign national. Careful examination of the consignment declared as “Warne Gear” revealed eight disc-shaped pieces of gold of foreign origin, each weighing 1.5 kg, cleverly hidden inside the gear parts. A total of 12 kg of smuggled foreign gold was recovered from the courier consignment.
The release said that simultaneous searches conducted at the residence of the intended recipient and the alleged mastermind resulted in the recovery of two more identical disc-shaped pieces of gold of foreign origin, each weighing 1.5 kg. Four people, including the mastermind, who is a habitual offender, and a foreign national have been arrested in this case. The release further said that preliminary investigation also revealed that cryptocurrencies were being used to transfer money across borders to finance smuggling.
Major action was also taken at Mumbai airport
Earlier, in a major action against foreign origin gold smuggling, DRI had successfully detected and busted a highly organized gold smuggling syndicate operating through Mumbai Airport. According to the official release, in this operation, DRI detected and busted a gold melting facility, which was used to melt smuggled gold of foreign origin. A total of nine people involved in the entire smuggling chain were arrested, which included the airport staff, its handler, three middlemen, the operator of the melting facility and three persons involved in the melting process.
Apart from this, about 6 kg of smuggled gold of foreign origin was recovered from the spot. The case highlighted the growing complexity of organized gold smuggling syndicates, which increasingly take advantage of insider access at airports and use layered distribution networks to avoid detection. (ANI)
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