In a big swoop, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 85.535 kg gold valued at approximately Rs 42 crore from four foreign nationals involved in international smuggling activities.
The seizure had been made under an intelligence operation code-named ‘Operation Molten Metal’.
Several Indian and foreign (Chinese, Taiwanese and South Korean) nationals were suspected to be indulging in smuggling gold into India from Hong Kong using the air cargo route. The DRI operation identified the smuggling racket and laid a trap to apprehend the culprits.
The intelligence indicated that the gold smuggled in the form of machinery parts was being melted and moulded into bar/cylinder shapes before being disposed of in the local market.
Acting upon the said intelligence, DRI officers examined an import consignment at the air cargo complex at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
During the examination, the consignment was found to contain electroplating machines fitted with transformers. The ‘EI’ laminates of the transformers were found to have been made of gold-coated with nickel, essentially to hide the identity of the gold.
Approximately 1 kg gold was recovered from each of the 80 imported electroplating machines.
In a swift follow-up operation, further recovery of 5.409 kg of foreign-origin gold smuggled into India earlier adopting a similar modus operandi was made from a Delhi-based jeweller.
Further, during search operations conducted at several rented properties in Chattarpur and Gurugram, four foreign nationals (two from South Korea and one each from China and Taiwan) were found to be using sophisticated metallurgical techniques to convert the smuggled gold in the form of ‘EI’ laminates into bar/cylindrical form for further distribution.
These activities were being conducted by the foreign nationals in rented farmhouses/apartments in plush localities of south Delhi and Gurugram, and extreme precautions were being taken by them to keep the illegal nature of their activities hidden even from their immediate neighbours.
The recovered gold, totally weighing 85.535 kg and valued at approximately Rs 42 crore, has been seized. The four foreign nationals involved in the smuggling activities have been apprehended and are being questioned.
During questioning, it has been revealed that two of the foreign nationals had stuck up a close relationship while being behind bars for their previous offenses of gold smuggling.
Further investigation is underway.
