In a major crackdown against smuggling of foreign origin gold, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully unearthed and dismantled a highly organised gold smuggling syndicate operating through Mumbai Airport. In this operation DRI detected and busted gold melting facility that was being used for melting of foreign origin smuggled gold.

Seized gold from melting facility in Mumbai

A total of nine persons involved across the entire smuggling chain, including the airport staff, her handler, three intermediaries, the melting facility operator, and three persons engaged in the melting process have been arrested. Further, about 6 kg foreign-origin smuggled gold recovered at the spot has been seized.

This case underscores the evolving sophistication of organised gold smuggling syndicates, which increasingly exploit insider access at airports and employ layered distribution networks to evade detection. In another operation at Bengaluru, DRI seized 1.8 kg 24 KT gold in paste form ingeniously concealed within the layers of garments of an international passenger. Subsequent follow up search at his residential premises led to seizure of around 1.5 kg gold jewellery, 45 kg silver, and Indian & foreign currencies. The person was arrested.

Gold in paste form concealed in undergarments; Seized at Bengaluru

earlier in this week, DRI has conducted a series of operations at other airports, railways station and land customs stations at Hyderabad, Rajkot, Calicut, Vishakhapatnam, Calicut, Guwahati and Petrapole, leading to the cumulative seizure of another 6 kg foreign-origin smuggled gold. Five persons have been arrested in these operations.

Gold Seized at Vishakhapatnam

Overall, with busting of gold smuggling syndicate, these operations resulted in seizure of about 15 kg gold, 45 kg silver, valued at around Rs. 23 crore, and arrest of 15 persons.

****

NB/KMN

Foreign-origin gold smuggling syndicate exposed through airport-linked operations, concealed carriage, melting facilities and multiple arrests. A coordinated crackdown on a foreign-origin gold smuggling syndicate operating through airports led to the detection of a gold melting facility used to process smuggled gold. The operation exposed a layered smuggling chain involving airport staff, handlers, intermediaries, a melting facility operator and persons engaged in the melting process, with arrests made across the network and seizure of gold recovered at the facility. Separate operations at Bengaluru and other airports, railway stations and land customs stations led to further recoveries of smuggled gold and additional arrests.