Mumbai Crime: Seven held, over 100 kg of smuggled gold seized in Dongri

Representation picture

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has claimed to have busted a massive gold smuggling racket with seizure of 106.9 kg of gold and arrest of seven persons. Information was received by DRI that a syndicate is involved in smuggling of foreign origin gold in various forms like ropes, wires, rods, discs etc. of various weights into India by concealing the same in import consignments, mainly melting scrap of different metals.

Officers of DRI laid a trap in the Dongri area of Mumbai and intercepted two vehicles, search of the vehicles resulted in recovery of 30 kgs of gold in the form of 2 circular discs concealed inside the scooter and 45 kgs of gold concealed inside the Honda City, also in the form of 3 circular discs. The total quantity of gold recovered was 75 kgs. One Abdul Ahad Zarodarwala, and Shaikh Abdul Ahad employee of Shoeb Zarodarwala were found driving the Honda city and the Activa respectively. Shoeb Zarodarwala was found seated in the Honda City.

They sold smuggled gold in the wholesale market for a commission and one of their customers was Raju alias Manoj Jain who had bought around 100 kg of smuggled gold from them in the past, the two told DRI sleuths. The sale proceeds were sent through "non-banking channels" (hawala) and they had sent Rs 12 crore through one Aaquil Fruitwala to Dubai, they allegedly revealed. Nisar Aliyar, when summoned by the DRI, allegedly confessed that he had smuggled more than 200 kg of gold into India from Dubai by concealing it in containers of brass scrap.

Apart from Zarodarwalas, he had also sold around 30 kg of smuggled goods to one Happy Dhakad, he said. A total of 106.9 kg of gold and Rs 1.81 crore in cash have been seized during the probe so far, the DRI said. Aliyar, Shoeb Zarodarwala, Abdul Ahad Zarodarwala, Shaikh Abdul Ahad, Dhakad, Jain and Fruitwala were arrested and remanded in judicial custody while further probe is on, it said.

For their offences of smuggling gold by concealing it in containers of scrap and the acts of aiding and abetting the offence by receiving and selling the smuggled gold in open market, Nisar Aliyar, Shoeb Zarodarwala, Abdul Ahad Zarodarwala, Shaikh Abdul Ahad, Happy Dhakad, Manoj Jain and Aaquil Fruitwala were arrested by DRI and have been remanded to judicial custody.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates