The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 48.20 kg of gold paste estimated at Rs 25 crore, in one of the biggest seizures of recent times, at Surat International Airport, a release said. Authorities had arrested three passengers traveling from Sharjah along with an official.
The DRI said it has busted a smuggling syndicate by arresting the four persons. "Based on specific intelligence, officers of DRI intercepted three passengers arriving from Sharjah by Air India Express Flight No. IX172 at Surat International Airport on July 7 suspected to be carrying gold in paste form to be smuggled into India," the DRI said in a release on Sunday.
The DRI found 43.5 kg of gold in paste form concealed in 20 white colour packets hidden in five black belts in their baggage. The gold was concealed for smuggling into India with the help of officials posted at the Surat international airport, it said.
The exchange of gold was planned to be done in a toilet located before the immigration to evade screening and examination by authorities, the DRI said. "Subsequent actions resulted in the further recovery of 4.67 kg of gold in paste form, found abandoned in the men's washroom adjacent to the immigration checkpoint, which was handed over by CISF to DRI," it said.
A total of 48.20 Kg gold paste recovered from the passengers was subjected to extraction, and more than 42 kg of gold (purity 99%) worth Rs.25.26 crore approximately was recovered, it added. The statements of the three passengers were recorded under the Customs Act, 1962 and the trio and an official have been arrested, it said. It seems an organised smuggling racket has been operating at the Surat international airport, the DRI said. Further investigation is underway.
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