Face2News/Ludhiana/Chandigarh
On the basis of specific and actionable intelligence regarding the smuggling of foreign-origin gold from Thailand into India by air and its subsequent distribution in Punjab, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ludhiana Zonal Unit, carried out a well-coordinated, intelligence-driven operation on Friday.
(MOREPIC1) Acting on the said intelligence, officers of DRI Chandigarh Regional Unit (CRU) positioned themselves at Ambala Junction to intercept an identified carrier travelling from Kolkata by train. Upon deboarding the train at Ambala, the carrier boarded a bus bound for Ludhiana, Punjab. The bus was intercepted, and the suspect was identified, detained and apprehended by the DRI officers.
During preliminary interrogation, the carrier disclosed that he had travelled from Kolkata to Delhi and thereafter to Ambala, carrying foreign-origin gold smuggled into India from Thailand via flight, intended for delivery in Punjab on the instructions of members of an organised smuggling syndicate.
Subsequently, a punchnama was drawn in the presence of independent witnesses, and 601 grams of foreign-origin 24-carat gold, valued at approximately ₹80,01,000/-, was recovered and seized. The accused was placed under arrest under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Further investigation is underway to identify the source of procurement, financial and hawala channels, past consignments, and other members of the syndicate, including backward and forward linkages.