In a major crackdown on gold smuggling, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers busted a gold smuggling syndicate operating from a hotel near Ahmedabad International Airport. During this operation, DRI seized a total of 10.32 kilograms (kg) of gold of 24K purity worth Rs. 7.75 crore.

Based on specific intelligence, DRI officers discreetly followed two passengers arriving from Abu Dhabi, at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPI), along with two other individuals at the airport to receive them. The officers of DRI intercepted the passengers and, the receivers near a hotel near the Ahmedabad airport area. A personal search of the passengers led to the recovery of 3596.36 grams of foreign-origin smuggled gold paste concealed in their undergarments. Responding to the situation a team of DRI officers conducted a search operation in the hotel where other members of the syndicate were found staying. Swift interrogation revealed that one person had already left Ahmedabad after receiving gold paste smuggled by another member of the syndicate, who had arrived by an early morning flight, and was en route to Mumbai by Vande Bharat Express. The Officers of DRI intercepted the said person at Borivali Station. A recovery of 2,551.000 grams of gold in paste form was made from that person.

Based on the lead gathered during the interrogation DRI officers intercepted another passenger of the same syndicate, arriving from Dubai at the SVPI Airport, Ahmedabad resulting in the further recovery of 5.5 Kgs of gold paste. The total seizure amounted to 10.32 kg of gold, estimated to be worth Rs. 7.75 crore.

The intercepted passengers and syndicate members admitted to smuggling gold paste from Dubai/Abu Dhabi and delivering it to their handler in Ahmedabad. All the ten members including the key handler, actively involved in smuggling have been arrested by the DRI under the Customs Act.

The modus operandi unearthed involved a Chennai-based gold carrier gang operating through Ahmedabad Airport. The members of the syndicate smuggled foreign-origin gold paste through various persons belonging to Tamilnadu acting as ‘carriers’. A handler at a near-airport hotel would receive the smuggled goods and promptly deploy another person to transport the gold onward to Mumbai, Chennai, and, other stations. Investigation indicates that the syndicate was operational for the past four months.

This remarkable seizure by DRI Ahmedabad is a testament to their unwavering commitment to combating illegal gold smuggling and safeguarding India's economic interests.

AP/GP/JT

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