DRI seizes 32 kg foreign origin gold worth Rs 10.32 cr

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Acting on an specific  intelligence, the officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have seized 32 kg of foreign origin gold valued at Rs 10.32 crore, smuggled from China into India through the Indo-China Border in the State of Sikkim.

The DRI received a tip off that a huge quantity of Gold of foreign origin that has been smuggled into India from China through Indo-China Border in the State of Sikkim would find its way to Kolkata via Siliguri and would be carried by three persons who would be travelling by a hired vehicle from Gangtok to Siliguri and would thereafter go to Kolkata by train for the ultimate delivery of the same.

Acting on the said tip off, the officers of DRI led strict surveillance over the area on Sevoke Road, Siliguri, Near Payal Cinema Hall where they intercepted a white colour Maruti Wagon R on 11.15 pm on May 31, 2018. On preliminary inquiry, it was found that the Wagon R vehicle was taken on hire by three passengers. All the three passengers are natives of Maharashtra and they had hired the vehicle for their journey from Siliguri to Gangtok and back.

The three intercepted persons admitted the fact that they were carrying in their persons gold bars of foreign origin that had been smuggled into India from China through Indo-China Border in the State of Sikkim. All the three persons were taken to DRI office at Siliguri where, on search, three specially tailored cloth belts having several pockets and secured by metal Zip fasteners were found to be fastened around their waist. On opening of the said belts, a total of 32 pcs of primary gold bars bearing foreign inscription were recovered. Each of the gold bars was found to weigh 1 kg bringing the total haul to 32 kg, according to a PIB release.

On further inquiry, it was revealed that the intercepted persons have temporary residence at Siliguri which too was searched by the DRI officers in the early morning of June 1, 2018, from where Indian Currency worth Rs 20,19,850 was recovered which the intercepted persons identified as being a part of sale proceed of smuggled gold. The total seizure value is Rs 10,52,91,750.

This is one of the biggest Gold seizure by DRI in the recent past in East and North-East India. In the current financial year, starting from April 1, 2018, till date, in the region spread over West Bengal and the North eastern states, the DRI has seized over 137 kg of Gold and Gold Jewellery valued at close to Rs 24 crore in the market smuggled from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and even from China.

In 2017-2018, DRI had seized close to 430 kg of Gold and Gold Jewelry in the East and North East region collectively valued at more than  Rs 100 crores. DRI remains committed to combating all types of cross border crime involving smuggling of gold, consumer goods, drugs and narcotics, wild life articles, Fake Indian Currency Notes and counterfeit goods, import-export frauds and trade based money laundering.