Gold smuggling racket busted in Mumbai, Rs 15 cr yellow metal seized; 11 held

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI has busted a gold smuggling syndicate seizing the precious metal valued at Rs 15 crore and arresting 11 persons including the mastermind officials said on Wednesday reported news agency PTIPreliminary investigations suggest a wellplanned conspiracy to smuggle gold into India and sell the refined metal in the grey market violating import rules and evading government revenue according to an official reported PTIDRI Mumbai Zonal unit had received information about the gold smuggling and melting syndicate being operated in MumbaiBased on it DRI teams carried out simultaneous searches on Monday at four locations in the city including two illegal melting units and two unregistered shopsThey found a fully functional unit where smuggled gold was being melted and converted into wax and other forms like bars the official said reported PTIA total of 635 kg of gold was seized from the melting units and those operating the furnaces were apprehendedFollowup searches at two shops linked to the mastermind led to the recovery of another 553 kg of gold bars the official saidIn all the DRI seized 1188 kg of 24carat gold valued at Rs 1505 crore along with 872 kg of silver valued at Rs 1317 lakh he said reported PTIThe 11 arrested persons comprise the mastermind who is a known offender involved in previous smuggling cases his father a manager four hired melters an accountant and three delivery persons the official said reported PTIAll the accused have been produced before a court and sent to judicial custodyNarcotics and gold valued over Rs 13 cr seized at Mumbai airport six arrestedIn another case customs officials have seized narcotics and gold valued at Rs 1384 crore during operations conducted between November 6 and 9 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport CSMIA in Mumbai reported PTISix passengers arriving from various international destinations were arrested in connection with the seizures an official said on MondayActing on specific intelligence and passenger profiling Mumbai Customs officers intercepted multiple travellers arriving from Bangkok Phuket and NairobiOn November 6 a passenger arriving from Bangkok was intercepted with 2873 kg of suspected hydroponic weed valued at Rs 287 crore On November 7 two passengers from Phuket were intercepted while carrying 4022 kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs 402 crore On Saturday two more passengers from Bangkok were held with 3999 kg of the same substance valued at Rs 399 crore reported PTIAnother passenger from Bangkok was found carrying 2946 kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs 294 crore officials saidIn a separate case on the same day Customs officers seized 358 grams of 22carat gold in melted form valued at Rs 3774 lakh from a passenger arriving from Nairobi reported PTIThe narcotics concealed inside trolley bags were seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act The gold was confiscated under the provisions of the Customs ActFurther investigations are underway to determine possible links to international smuggling networks officials addedWith inputs from PTI