New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested three people from Kolkata and seized eight kilograms gold along with Indian currency, cumulatively worth Rs 3.29 crore.
The recovered items were concealed in a specially-built cavity behind the armrest of a car after being smuggled from Bangladesh.
According to DRI, the three persons were identified as Munnawar Alam, Mohammad Faisal and Altaf. "We received information that the accused would be carrying a huge quantity of gold, smuggled into India from Bangladesh, by concealing in a white car and will move out from Kolkata through the Kona Expressway in the evening of August 27," said DRI official.
A trap was laid and the vehicle was intercepted. The car was driven by Altaf and the other two were sitting at the passenger seat. They were questioned regarding any contraband items in their possession or concealed in the vehicle.
Initially, all of them denied but on repeated questioning, they admitted that they are carrying smuggled gold bars which are concealed in a specially built cavity made behind the armrest in the rear seat of the vehicle. All three persons were asked to appear in the DRI office at Kolkata.
At DRI office, the car was searched thoroughly by the DRI officers. It was seen that at the middle of the back seat, there was one specially built cavity hidden behind the armrest in the back seat which was found locked. Alam took out the key from the steering and identified one long key attached to the bunch.
"With that key, Munnawar opened the cavity and took out two specially made white cloth belts from inside the cavity of the vehicle. It was found that one of the cloth belts contained six numbers of rectangular gold bars and a gold cut piece wrapped with adhesive tapes," added DRI official.
According to DRI, the weight of each of the recovered gold was done by the DRI officers and the total weight was found to be 8000.19 gms. The recovered gold, Indian Currency and the vehicle used for transporting and concealment were then seized under the provisions of the Customs Act.