Pramesh S Jain
Gold smuggling worth Rs.4.67 crore busted.Making use of the lockdown situation,a Kerala-based gang attempts to smuggle 9.30 kg gold bars or Bulions into Andhra Pradesh via Karnataka but was nabbed by Bengaluru DRI unit.
Senior DRI Official said,Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers from Bengaluru unit on Friday chased and caught two persons and recovered 9.3 kgs of gold bars worth Rs.4.7 Crore.
Surveillance was mounted in the evening of 21.05.2021 by the DRI,based on specific intelligence that gold that had been smuggled into the country in the form of gold paste using the International Airports in the region, was to be transported by road through Karnataka to delivery locations elsewhere.
This smuggled gold had been readied for transportation by the smuggling syndicates by consolidation and compaction of the metal in the gold paste.
Based on a credible information about gold is being smuggled by road,a team of officials swung into action and intercepted the kerala registered vehicle near Hiriyur,Chitradurga by creating a vehicular blockade.
However the suspect vehicle crashed through the barrier trying to mow down the DRI team and sped away .
The officials persuaded and gave a dramatic chase for over 30 minutes before pinning down the accused and confiscated their vehicle.
A detailed search of the vehicle led to recover 9.3 kg gold hidded in secret compartment of car in a crude form that was concealed ingeniously in a custom made deep cavity under the co- passenger’s seat.
No documents were found in the vehicle or on their person To evidence licit possession of the gold.
During investigation the two Kerala based gang in their statement confessed that the gold recovered from their possession had its origin in the gold smuggled into the country in paste form through the International Airports.
Both the said accused have been arrested by DRI and Further investigations are in progress.
