Continuing its sustained crackdown on gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized around 21 kg foreign-origin gold in two operations, cumulatively valued at more than Rs. 61 crore in seven separate operations carried out across the country. Five persons have been arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Based on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted two new Thar vehicles near Palwal Toll Plaza. The very ingenious  and sophisticated concealed cavity in the chassis of both the vehicles that had been created by removing and expertly welding back a portion of the chassis over the rear wheel proved extremely difficult to detect. Only upon  painstaking rummaging of these vehicles, DRI officers could successfully locate the concealment. A total of 15.18 kg. gold in form of bars, valued at approximately Rs. 23.30 crore was recovered from two vehicles and seized on 19.09.26. Four persons accompanying the vehicles were arrested. The intelligence indicates that the gold has been smuggled from Myanmar.

Earlier, in another operation on 16.09.26, officers of DRI intercepted a passenger at Jewar Toll Plaza, who was travelling by bus from Gorakhpur towards Delhi. Personal search led to the recovery and seizure of 5.8 kg of foreign-origin gold, comprising five 1-kg gold bars and approximately 800 grams of cut pieces, valued concealed in a specially designed cotton waist belt. The person was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962. Preliminary investigation indicated that the gold had been handed over to him in Kathmandu and brought into India through the India-Nepal land border.

In last three weeks, DRI officers have seized around 123 kg gold and around 10 kg silver, collectively valued at more than Rs 187 crore in various operations across the country. 58 persons have been arrested for smuggling gold. These operations underscore DRI’s continued focus on disrupting organised gold-smuggling networks and detecting increasingly sophisticated methods of concealment.

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SR/KMN

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