In a covert intelligence operation code-named "Golden Tap", the officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted an air cargo consignment on 11^th May 2022 at Delhi Air Cargo Complex, on the suspicion that it might have smuggled gold concealed therein. The consignment declared to contain Triangle Valves, had originated from Guangzhou, China, and had arrived at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport by a Japan Airlines flight.

After a thorough and prolonged examination which continued till early Thursday morning, a large number of the imported triangle valves were found to have 24 karat gold concealed in them. The intricate method of concealment, which necessitated a careful and time-consuming extraction process, would have escaped detection had it not been for the specific intelligence gathered by DRI officers. After an intensive examination, the officers of DRI were able to recover 61.5 kilograms of gold having a market value of Rs. 32.5 crore from the consignment. The recovered gold, found to be of 99 percent purity, has been seized.

This detection comes on the heels of other recent seizures of gold from air cargo and courier consignments made by the agency. These include the seizures of 11 kg of gold worth more than Rs. 5.88 crore in Lucknow and Mumbai in May, 2022 and previous seizures of 16.79 kg gold, valued at Rs. 8 crore,  from a courier consignment in July, 2021, followed by the seizure of 80.13 kg gold, valued at Rs. 39.31 crore, in November, 2021 from an air cargo consignment - both at New Delhi.

DRI’s ability to detect such sophisticated modes of concealment is reinforced by these seizures and acts as a deterrent to those attempting to compromise India’s economic frontiers. DRI remains committed to continuing its relentless crackdown against the perpetrators of these crimes.

Concealment of gold detected and seized from imported air cargo following an intelligence-led inspection operation. An intelligence-led operation uncovered sophisticated concealment of high-purity gold within imported triangle valves; after detailed inspection officers effected the seizure of gold concealed in multiple valve components, demonstrating detection of elaborate concealment techniques and the role of targeted intelligence in countering smuggling.