Mumbai News: DRI Busts Gold Smuggling Syndicate, Arrests Mastermind In ₹2.57 Crore Seizure

Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials on Friday arrested a man in a gold smuggling case. The DRI officials claimed that the accused is one of the masterminds of a syndicate involved in smuggling of gold through the cross border of India.

The arrested person has been identified as D.M. Sagare, a resident of Sangli. According to the DRI, based on intelligence, DRI Mumbai Unit had intercepted two K.C. Choudhary and M P. Rastogi at LTT railway station on 20.03.2024. They had arrived with suspected smuggled gold concealed on their person.

Two packages containing gold were recovered from Choudhary's specially designed waistcoat. The total seizure was 3804.50 grams of gold valued at Rs 2.57 crore. Later, two more accused U. Singh and D. Soni (a jeweller) were also arrested in the said case after their involvement surfaced in the probe, officials said.

"Questioning of the earlier arrested accused revealed involvement of Sagare in this case following which he was arrested on Friday. During the investigation Sagare has revealed certain facts pertaining to the gold smuggling syndicate. Based on the revelations made by Sagare, DRI is making efforts to trace and apprehend certain people who have played a role in the said gold smuggling syndicate," said a DRI source.

He added, "The investigation conducted so far indicates a deep-rooted conspiracy to defraud the Government and to harm the economic balance and security of India. The present case involves continued acts of smuggling in an organized manner by the syndicate involving the foreign nationals. The involvement of other key members such as hawala operators, buyers of smuggled gold, other unknown members associated with the syndicate are being investigated. The involvement of other key members and sources for the purchase of the gold, sale, and distribution of the smuggled gold etc. is also being investigated. Incriminating evidence has been gathered and a detailed analysis of the same is in process," the official said.