Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai seized more than 10 kg of gold in 2 separate cases on 3rd and 4th June 2023.
In the first case based on specific intelligence, 2 passengers reached Mumbai from Sharjah in Air India Express flight number IX 252 and were intercepted. During the examination of the said passengers, 8 gold bars of 24 carat having foreign markings weighing 8 kg each were found concealed around their waist inside their clothes. Acting swiftly on further intelligence, another co-traveller was apprehended. Gold in bar form weighing 8 kg was seized during the investigation, valued at Rs 4.94 crore. Three people have been arrested in the first case.
In another case, an Indian national coming from Dubai was also stopped at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) airport on 3 June 2023. The luggage of the said passengers was checked and during the search of the luggage 56 purses were recovered from the clutches of the women. All the women’s clutches were found to have 24-karat gold cleverly hidden in the form of silver-colored metal wires beneath the metal straps of the women’s clutches.
The net weight of the recovered gold wires was found to be 2005 grams and the provisional value was Rs.1,23,80,875/-. The said passenger was arrested in this case. The second seizure apparently involves well-educated persons directly involved in the planning and execution of gold smuggling.
New modus operandi were detected in both the cases, indicating new challenges being faced by the DRI officers on a regular basis to investigate the gold smuggling syndicate in various forms in the country. The seizure of foreign marked gold and 24 carat gold concealed in the form of silver colored metal wires at the Mumbai International Airport is a reminder of the ongoing fight against gold smuggling.
A total of 10 kg gold worth about 6.2 crores has been seized in the above cases and a total of 4 passengers have been arrested. Further investigation is underway.