New Delhi, Sep 10 (PTI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized around 41 kg foreign-origin gold valued around Rs 62 crore in six operations in recent days.
The operations resulted in the arrest of 24 people, including three foreign nationals, and have exposed sophisticated methods of concealment and organised smuggling networks operating through airports, rail routes and the India-Bangladesh border, the Finance ministry said in a statement.
In an operation in Delhi, DRI officers conducted simultaneous searches, on September 7, on premises linked to a person involved in the procurement and conversion of foreign-origin gold.
Four foreign-origin gold bars, each weighing 1 kg, along with around 6.2 kg gold chains made from smuggled
gold bars, were recovered, taking the total seizure to about 10.2 kg of gold.
One person, who owned the manufacturing facility, was arrested.
In a separate operation on September 8, DRI officers in Delhi intercepted a vehicle coming from Punjab and recovered and seized 1.21 kg gold, along with foreign currency, valued around Rs 43.50 lakh. One person was arrested.
Earlier this month, DRI, in coordination with BSF, seized 89 pieces of foreign-origin gold bars weighing around 11.3 kg recovered from a person near the Indo-Bangladesh border at BOP Halderpara.
As the person could not produce documents for lawful possession, the gold was seized under the Customs Act, 1962. The apprehended person admitted his involvement in smuggling and was arrested. PTI JD TRB
