The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Nagpur, seized 2.165 kg of foreign-origin smuggled gold worth around Rs 3.09 crore from a passenger at Nagpur Railway Station. DRI officials said they had received specific intelligence about gold being smuggled through the Indo-Bangladesh border. The information indicated that the gold was being carried by a passenger travelling on the 12102 Dhnyaneshwari Express for further delivery. Acting on the information, a DRI team intercepted the passenger at Nagpur Railway Station. “Based on specific intelligence, our officers intercepted the passenger and recovered 16 bars of foreign-origin gold,” a DRI official said.

 

The gold bars had been defaced, officials said. They weighed a total of 2.165 kg and were valued at around Rs 3.09 crore. The bars were tightly packed with brown adhesive tape. They were then wrapped in old newspapers to conceal them during the journey. According to DRI officials, the passenger admitted that he had received the gold. He also accepted that he was carrying and concealing it for further delivery. “The passenger admitted his role in receiving, concealing and carrying the smuggled gold for further delivery,” another DRI official said. The gold was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The passenger was arrested following the seizure. DRI officials are now investigating the source of the gold and the persons involved in the smuggling network. Officials are also probing the route used to bring the foreign-origin gold into India and the intended recipient of the consignment.