DRI Cracks Down on Gold Smuggling Syndicate in Mumbai: Rs 12.58 Crore Gold Seized
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has conducted a significant operation code-named 'Operation Golden Sweep' to crack down on an international gold smuggling syndicate. The operation took place at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, where 10.488 kg of 24 karat gold, valued at approximately Rs 12.58 crore, was seized. Thirteen individuals, including foreign nationals and airport staff, were apprehended during the operation.
The DRI's intelligence revealed a highly organized and sophisticated modus operandi used by the syndicate. Transit passengers from Dubai to Singapore, Bangkok, and Dhaka via Mumbai were employed as carriers. These passengers concealed gold in egg-shaped wax capsules inside their bodies. Upon arrival in Mumbai, the transit passengers discreetly handed over the smuggled gold to complicit airport staff within the international departure area. The staff then illicitly removed the gold from the airport premises and delivered it to handlers and receivers, who were in coordination with the mastermind.
The syndicate was operated by masterminds based in Mumbai and Dubai. It employed a multi-layered approach, involving transit passengers, airport staff, handlers, and several layers of receivers. The operation successfully dismantled this intricate network, arresting 13 individuals, including two Bangladeshi nationals, six Sri Lankan nationals, two airport staff members of a meet-and-greet service, two handlers, and the mastermind in Mumbai.
This successful operation underscores the DRI's robust intelligence capabilities, swift execution, and coordinated enforcement efforts. It highlights the evolving methods of smuggling syndicates and the growing insider threat within sensitive infrastructure. Organized syndicates are increasingly exploiting transit routes and airport personnel for monetary gain.
Further investigations are in progress to uncover the full extent of the syndicate's operations and to ensure that all involved parties are brought to justice. The DRI remains vigilant and committed to combating such illegal activities, protecting the nation's economic interests, and maintaining the integrity of its financial systems.
The operation also serves as a warning to potential smugglers and highlights the importance of stringent security measures at airports and other critical infrastructure. The DRI's proactive approach in identifying and dismantling such syndicates is crucial in maintaining the country's financial stability and security.
