DRI cracks down on organised gold smuggling and illegal melting racket operating in Delhi and Kolkata
New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) unearthed an organised syndicate involved in smuggling foreign-origin gold into India, transporting it by rail, melting and defacing it at illegal facilities, and clandestinely selling it in the domestic market. The operation resulted in seizure of gold, silver and Indian currency collectively valued at over Rs 14.13 crore and the arrest of six persons.
In total, 8286.81 grams of gold valued at Rs 13.41 crore, 7350.4 grams of silver valued at Rs 19.67 lakh, and Indian currency to Rs 51,74,100 were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Acting on specific intelligence, officers of DRI intercepted a passenger who had arrived from Kolkata by train at New Delhi Railway Station, with foreign-marked gold intended for delivery to a receiver outside the station. Both the carrier and the recipient were apprehended.
Based on the disclosures, follow-up searches were conducted in Delhi, which led to the detection of an illegal gold melting facility in Delhi used for defacing foreign-origin gold before its disposal in the local bullion market. Additional gold, silver and Indian currency were recovered from the premises, and the manager operating the facility was also apprehended.
Further investigation led to Kolkata, where the mastermind of the syndicate was traced to another illegal melting unit along with more defaced gold. He was apprehended along with two carriers, who admitted that foreign-marked gold smuggled into India had been received by them, melted to remove identifying markings, and would have been transported to Delhi through the rail route for further distribution.
All six persons involved in the smuggling, transportation, melting and disposal of gold have been arrested and produced before the competent court. Further investigation is in progress.
