Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Sept 21: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized up to 394 foreign-origin gold bars totaling 65.46 kg in weight and Rs 33.40 crore rupees in value from Delhi, Mumbai, and Patna. The gold bars were coming from nearby nations illegally, the finance ministry said on Wednesday.
“Specific intelligence indicated that a syndicate is actively planning to smuggle foreign-origin gold from Mizoram and using domestic courier consignment of supply chain and logistic company (hereinafter referred as logistics company),” said a release by the ministry.
A specific shipment labelled as containing “personal goods” and headed for Mumbai was intercepted as part of DRI’s “Op Gold Rush” operation.
DRI foils attempts of gold smuggling, seizes 65.46kg of gold in Mumbai, Patna&Delhi in one of the biggest seizures of smuggled gold recently. DRI seized 394 pieces of foreign-origin gold bars valued at approx Rs 33.40cr, being smuggled from neighbouring northeastern countries:DRI pic.twitter.com/sto5PzswIz
— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2022
“Examination of the consignment at Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) on September 19 led to the recovery and seizure of 120 pieces of foreign-origin gold biscuits weighing approximately 19.93 kg and valued at about Rs 10.18 crore,” the release said.
“Further analysis and investigation revealed that two other such consignments, sent by the same consignor from the same location to the same consignee, destined to Mumbai and in transit, were dispatched through the same logistics company. The location of the consignments was traced,” it added.
394 foreign-origin gold bars totaling 65.46 kg and estimated worth of Rs 33.40 crore were found and seized in the multi-city raids, according to the ministry.