DRI arrests five in alleged gold smuggling case

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence arrested five persons in an alleged foreign-origin gold smuggling case involving a route from Bangladesh to Hyderabad via Kolkata. Officers recovered three gold bars weighing about 3.1 kg and seized foreign currency during the operation.

HYDERABAD: Five persons were arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for allegedly smuggling foreign-origin (FO) gold from Bangladesh to Hyderabad via Kolkata.

Acting on specific inputs about a gang involved in procuring and transporting smuggled gold, the officers of the Hyderabad Zonal Unit (HZU) and Vijayawada Regional Unit (RU) intercepted a Scorpio vehicle on the outskirts of Vijayawada.

---

During questioning, the two occupants allegedly disclosed that they had received the foreign currency as part of the sale proceeds of smuggled gold and were involved in delivering the gold on the outskirts of Vijayawada.

Acting swiftly on the information, the officers identified three other members of the gang travelling towards Hyderabad in a public bus. They intercepted the trio at a toll plaza and recovered three foreign-origin gold bars weighing approximately 3.1 kg. The bars had been concealed in a pouch tied around their waists. Foreign currency concealed in a secret cavity in the vehicle was seized.

All five persons allegedly involved in procuring and transporting the contraband were arrested, produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.

Further investigation is under way to establish the network’s links and identify other persons involved in the smuggling operation.