The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched an operation named ‘Operation Eastern Gateway’ which involved developing intelligence in sufficient time to bust the modus operandi of smuggling. A syndicate based in Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal was smuggling a huge amount of gold from Bangladesh to India through the Indo-Bangladesh border in the state of Tripura.
In the operation, various teams of DRI were strategically placed at various locations in the states of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura including the Indo-Bangladesh border to trace the modus operandi used by the smuggling syndicate. Based on intelligence inputs, 8 persons of the syndicate were identified and caught red-handed in a simultaneous and well-coordinated operation at three locations.
The team in Siliguri intercepted four persons, while they were traveling in a train from Badarpur Junction in Assam to Sealdah, at Dalkhola railway station in West Bengal and recovered 90 gold bars, having a total weight of 18.66 kg, from their possession. Whose cost was Rs 10.66 crore. These straps were hidden in a specially tailored waist belt worn by each of them.
18.66 kg gold seized in Siliguri
Simultaneously, the team in Agartala intercepted a person driving a four-wheeler near the Indo-Bangladesh border near Agartala and recovered two gold bars weighing 2.25 kg each, valued at Rs 1.30 crore, which were found on the driver’s side front door. It was secretly hidden in a special cavity made below. Door.,
Another DRI team at Karimganj in Assam intercepted three persons traveling in a train from Agartala to Sealdah and seized eight gold bars weighing 3.50 kg, valued at Rs 2.03 crore, from their possession.
Gold and vehicles seized in Agartala and Karimganj
In the said operation, the total amount of gold smuggled was 24.4 kg, which was worth approx. 14 crores were seized and all the eight people caught were arrested. Further investigation is underway.
The all-India gold seizure figure by DRI has crossed 1000 kgs in this financial year.