India’s Revenue Intelligence steps up operations against gold smuggling from Bangladesh

India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has stepped up operations against gold smuggling from Bangladesh, seizing around 7.8kg of foreign-origin gold worth more than Rs11.50 crore in separate operations on 8 and 9 October.

According to a DRI statement issued today (11 October), officials intercepted a four-wheeled vehicle at the Dankuni toll plaza.

The vehicle, carrying four people, was travelling from Banpur, near the Bangladesh border, to Kolkata.

A search of the vehicle and its occupants led to the seizure of 50 gold bars weighing nearly 6.8kg and valued at around Rs10 crore. Some of the bars bore foreign markings.

The occupants failed to produce valid documents establishing their lawful possession of the gold. 

According to the DRI, they admitted to smuggling foreign-origin gold into India through Bangladesh.

The leader of a gang operating in the Banpur border area was among the four people arrested.

On the same day, DRI teams intercepted passengers getting off trains at Malda Town and New Jalpaiguri railway stations, seizing around 1kg of foreign-origin gold worth approximately Rs1.5 crore.

Two passengers were arrested after failing to produce documents proving the lawful purchase of the gold.

Investigations found that the seized gold, in the form of bangles and bars, had been made from gold smuggled across the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura.

“These operations clearly indicate that the border areas with Bangladesh as well as road and rail routes connecting the Northeast with major markets like Kolkata, continue to be used for the movement of smuggled gold,” the statement said.