New Delhi: In a meticulously planned operation codenamed ‘Rising Sun’, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted a major syndicate involved in the smuggling of foreign-origin gold, seizing around 61.08 kilograms of gold valued at approximately Rs 40 crore.
The operation, carried out on March 12th and 13th, spanned across four states, resulting in significant seizures in Guwahati, Barpeta, Darbhanga, Gorakhpur, and Araria. Alongside the gold, authorities confiscated 19 vehicles, cash, and various electronic items.
Acting on precise intelligence, DRI officers in Guwahati apprehended six syndicate members, including two masterminds, from a residential premises. The seizure included 22.74 kilograms of gold, Rs. 13 lakh in cash, vehicles, and electronic items. A vehicle tracked from Guwahati was intercepted at Barpeta, Assam, where an additional 13.28 kilograms of smuggled gold were found, leading to the apprehension of two more individuals.
Further investigations led DRI officers from Muzaffarpur to intercept a vehicle near Darbhanga, recovering 13.27 kilograms of gold. Meanwhile, in Gorakhpur, another vehicle was intercepted, yielding 11.79 kilograms of foreign-origin gold.
Additionally, DRI officers in Patna intercepted nine cars equipped with secret cavities used by the syndicate at Araria, Bihar.
Interrogations of the detained individuals revealed the syndicate’s modus operandi, which involved smuggling gold in small quantities through the Indo-Myanmar land border, aggregating the consignment in Guwahati, and then transporting it to destinations like Delhi and Jaipur. In total, DRI has apprehended 12 individuals – eight in Guwahati, two in Muzaffarpur, and two in Gorakhpur – as part of this operation.
The successful operation marks a significant blow to illegal gold smuggling activities, reaffirming DRI’s commitment to combating such illicit practices across state borders.
Authorities have reiterated their resolve to continue crackdowns on organized crime networks involved in smuggling, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and intelligence sharing in curbing such illegal activities.
