23 cr Gold and Silver Smuggling
Detected in Bombay, 15 Arrested in Gold Refining Network
1.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) dismantled a
highly organized foreign-origin
gold smuggling syndicate operating through Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj International Airport.
2.
During the operation, DRI uncovered and raided a gold melting facility
used to melt smuggled foreign-origin gold to conceal its identity.
3.
Nine people were arrested in the Mumbai operation,
including airport staff, a handler, intermediaries, the melting facility
operator, and workers involved in the melting process.
4.
Authorities seized about
6 kg of foreign-origin smuggled gold during the Mumbai
crackdown.
5.
In a separate operation in Bengaluru, DRI seized 1.8 kg of 24-carat gold paste
concealed inside an international passenger's garments.
6.
Follow-up searches at the passenger's residence led to the
recovery of around 1.5 kg
of gold jewellery, 45 kg of silver, and Indian and foreign currencies.
The passenger was arrested.
7.
Additional DRI operations at airports, railway stations,
and land customs stations in Hyderabad, Rajkot, Kozhikode, Visakhapatnam,
Guwahati, and Petrapole resulted in the seizure of another 6 kg of smuggled gold.
8.
Five additional persons were arrested during
these operations.
9.
Overall, the coordinated crackdown led to the seizure of about 15 kg of gold, 45 kg of silver,
and valuables worth approximately ₹23 crore.
10.
In total, 15
persons were arrested, highlighting DRI's action against
increasingly sophisticated gold smuggling networks exploiting airport insiders
and layered distribution channels.
In
a major crackdown against smuggling of foreign origin gold, the Directorate of
Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully unearthed and dismantled a highly
organised gold smuggling syndicate operating through Mumbai Airport. In this
operation DRI detected and busted gold melting facility that was being used for
melting of foreign origin smuggled gold.
A
total of nine persons involved across the entire smuggling chain, including the
airport staff, her handler, three intermediaries, the melting facility
operator, and three persons engaged in the melting process have been arrested.
Further, about 6 kg foreign-origin smuggled gold recovered at the spot has been
seized.
This
case underscores the evolving sophistication of organised gold smuggling
syndicates, which increasingly exploit insider access at airports and employ
layered distribution networks to evade detection. In another operation at
Bengaluru, DRI seized 1.8 kg 24 KT gold in paste form ingeniously concealed
within the layers of garments of an international passenger. Subsequent follow
up search at his residential premises led to seizure of around 1.5 kg gold jewellery,
45 kg silver, and Indian & foreign currencies. The person was arrested.
Earlier
in this week, DRI has conducted a series of operations at other airports,
railways station and land customs stations at Hyderabad, Rajkot, Calicut,
Vishakhapatnam, Calicut, Guwahati and Petrapole,
leading to the cumulative seizure of another 6 kg foreign-origin smuggled gold.
Five persons have been arrested in these operations.
Overall,
with busting of gold smuggling syndicate, these operations resulted in seizure
of about 15 kg gold, 45 kg silver, valued at around Rs. 23 crore,
and arrest of 15 persons.