Gold smuggling ring spanning Bangladesh, Dubai busted in Delhi, Agartala: Indian ministry
Officials on 6 January apprehended a suspected member of the syndicate at a domestic logistics warehouse while he was taking delivery of two consignments originating from Agartala, the ministry said.
India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted an alleged international gold smuggling syndicate operating from Bangladesh and Dubai following coordinated searches in Delhi and Agartala, the capital of Tripura.
The operation led to the seizure of more than 29 kg of foreign-origin gold worth over Rs40 crore, along with cash amounting to Rs2.9 crore in Indian and Bangladeshi currencies, India's finance ministry said in a statement today (7 January).
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials on 6 January apprehended a suspected member of the syndicate at a domestic logistics warehouse while he was taking delivery of two consignments originating from Agartala, reads the statement.
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Examination of the consignments led to the recovery of 15 kg of foreign-origin gold bearing international refinery markings, valued at approximately Rs20.73 crore. Simultaneous searches at multiple locations in Delhi and Agartala resulted in the recovery of an additional 14.2 kg of gold and Rs2.90 crore in cash.
Police in Dhaka refused to comment on the matter.
According to the Indian ministry, DRI investigations revealed that the syndicate was smuggling gold into India through the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura and transporting it to Delhi using domestic cargo services, with the involvement of handlers based in Dubai and Bangladesh, as well as local operatives running jewellery shops in Agartala.
