DRI busts cross-border gold smuggling racket in West Bengal; 24 kg foreign-origin gold worth ₹34 crore seized, seven held

In a major crackdown against cross-border smuggling of foreign-origin gold, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully unearthed and dismantled a well-organised gold smuggling syndicate operating along the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal.

In an intelligence led operation, DRI officials intercepted seven persons travelling on separate motorcycles from Krishnanagar towards Chakdaha in Nadia district, West Bengal. Personal search of the intercepted persons resulted in the recovery of 180 pieces of foreign-marked and defaced gold bars, ingeniously concealed inside specially tailored cloth belts worn around their waists to evade detection.

The recovered foreign-origin gold, collectively weighing approximately 24 kg and valued at approximately Rs. 34 crore, was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. All seven persons involved in the smuggling operation have been arrested.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the carriers had collected the smuggled gold from locations near the Indo-Bangladesh border and were transporting it onward for delivery to another set of carriers.

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SR/KMN