Pramesh S Jain & Dr.Thomas (Sub-Editor)
Officials of the Directorate of Revenue of Intelligence ( DRI) on Tuesday busted international gold smuggling racket and seized 9 kilograms of gold worth ₹ 6.2 crores in two different incidents within three hours .
While 6.8 kilos of crude gold was recovered from two women passengers the officials recovered 2.18 kilos of gold restroom of the aircraft .
Based on a specific intelligence developed that a syndicate will conceal gold inside the aircraft during its international leg for further retrieval,the officers of DRI Bengaluru rummaged the Thai Airways flight,from Bangkok,which landed at Bangalore International Airport.
The rummaging resulted in recovery of 6.834 Kg of gold in Bar form and Crude form concealed inside abandoned hand bags in the flight .
Based on the documents found inside the handbags and inputs from the crew,the officers identified the passengers who left the bags in the craft and intercepted the two passengers.
After detailed interrogation,the passengers accepted that the gold was concealed by them inside the craft. The gold was valued at Rs 4.77 Cr. by the govt.certified assayer.The Passengers were arrested. Further investigation is in progress.
In another incident based on specific Intelligence, 2.18 Kg of Foreign Origin gold in bar form was recovered and seized by officers of DRI,Bengaluru on rummaging of Emirates flight which arrived from Dubai at Bengaluru International Airport.
The smuggled gold was concealed in the front lavatory of the aircraft.The gold was valued at ₹ 1.52 Cr by government certified assayer.Further investigation is in progress.
Inquiries revealed that the accused are women from West Bengal and Another from Haryana aged around 40 years.
The duo had travelled to Thailand on tourist visa and based on the instruction of a person they met agreed to smuggle the gold for a commission.
The duo was supposed to handover the gold to contact outside the airport who escaped soon after the duo was detained , the officials, said .