DRI seizes gold worth over Rs 7 crore, six arrested
Officials suspect that the accused are a part of an international smuggling gang
Kolkata: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized gold worth over Rs 7 crore smuggled into different parts of the city and adjoining areas since March 25. The matter was also informed to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).
Acting on a tip-off, the DRI officials on Friday night raided three different places in the city and seized gold worth Rs 5.4 crore and hard cash worth Rs 75 lakh. They raided two hotels in Salt Lake and Sadar Street area respectively along with Burrabazar area and seized the gold.
Six persons have been arrested by the DRI in the case. According to the preliminary investigation, the DRI officials suspect that the accused might have smuggled the gold from neighbouring Myanmar.
According to the officials, they received a tip-off regarding a gang which is actively engaged in smuggling huge quantity of foreign-origin gold to India from abroad. The officials also suspect that the huge quantity of gold was brought through the Indo-Bangladesh border.
The investigating officers are yet to ascertain where the accused had intended to the consignments.
As per the specific information, the DRI sleuths chalked out an elaborate plan and carried out the operations successfully and finally arrested the carriers. All the six accused are suspected to be residents of Myanmar. They are being interrogated thoroughly.
The investigating officials are trying to know the names of the others who are involved in the incident.
They suspect that the accused are a part of an international smuggling gang. It may be mentioned here that in the past few days, the DRI officials have raided various parts of the state and seized gold.
The Election Commission is also keeping a tab on the development as a huge amount of gold has been seized from various places in the city following the election notification. It may also be mentioned that the Siliguri unit of the DRI a couple of months ago had seized gold bars weighing over 9 kg that had been smuggled from Myanmar to India through the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the city police on Friday arrested a Howrah-based scrap iron businessman from Bhowanipore area and recovered nearly Rs 40 lakh from his possession. The CID officials are conducting a probe if the amount was meant for election use by any political party leader.
