According to DRI, Mumbai, on Monday, working on the intelligence, a well-timed and coordinated operation was planned and executed by the officers
During the raids, officials seized 36 kg of gold worth Rs 21 crore. Pic/DRI Mumbai
The Directorate Revenue of Intelligence (DRI) during an investigation related to various cases of smuggling of gold at the Airport and Air Cargo Complex, Mumbai, got intelligence inputs that a syndicate involving foreign nationals is involved in the processing and distribution of smuggled gold and the officials carried out raids at multiple locations where the smuggled gold was melted by the syndicate. During the raids, officials seized 36 kg of gold worth Rs 21 crore.
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"It was also learned that the payment of the said gold smuggling was happening through the hawala channel. A discreet surveillance was mounted by a team of DRI officers on the travel pattern of a few foreign nationals and suspected Indian nationals to bust the syndicate," DRI said in a statement.
According to DRI, Mumbai, on Monday, working on the intelligence, a well-timed and coordinated operation was planned and executed by the officers. "The suspected premises where this melting and processing of smuggled gold was taking place was searched under the Customs Act, 1962 by a team of DRI officers. A thorough search of the premises led to the recovery of more than 36 kg of unaccounted gold at various stages of processing. On getting the gold valued, the gross value is approximately Rs 21 crore,” the statement further reads.
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Officials have also said that the person in-charge of the premises confessed that he had obtained the gold from various individuals including foreign nationals in the form of capsules carried through body concealment, through travel bags, through clothes layering and also through different types of machines. The person was also found in possession of unaccounted cash of more than Rs 20 lakh.
During the course of interrogation and investigation, it was further revealed that the gold was delivered to various domestic players on daily basis based on the codes being operated by the syndicate. "The search led to various evidences indicating the different methods of concealment for smuggling of gold,” officials said.
“This case shows the strength of proper surveillance and well-coordinated action by the officers of DRI to check the syndicate involved in smuggling of gold in various forms into the country. One person has been arrested in the above case. Further investigation in the instant case is under progress to unearth and neutralize the illegal inflow and distribution of smuggled gold into the country,” the statement added.
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