DRI seizes Rs. 1.68cr-worth gold smuggled into India from Myanmar
What's the story
DRI officials in Kolkata have seized 34 gold bars of foreign origin cumulatively weighing 5.6 kg and valued at Rs. 1.68cr, which was smuggled into India from Myanmar. They also arrested three persons in the case. The trio was held at Howrah Railway Station after they de-boarded a train on Wednesday, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said in a statement. Here's more.
Details
Two accused were habitual offenders
Gold smuggled from Myanmar through Moreh in Manipur was being carried by the accused on the Saraighat Express from Guwahati to Howrah. They disembarked at a station before Howrah and took a local train. Gold was concealed in their shoes. Reportedly, two among the three were found to be habitual offenders and had earlier been booked in a case at Siliguri by DRI.
Seizure
DRI seized gold worth Rs. 93cr in 2017-18
The accused were produced before a local court which remanded them to judicial custody for 14 days. There have been significant seizures of gold bars of foreign origin smuggled from Myanmar through the Indo-Myanmar border. In 2017-18, in the region spread over West Bengal and the northeastern states, the DRI had seized more than 300 kg of gold valued at about Rs. 93cr.