The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested five people for their alleged involvement in smuggling foreign-origin gold from Bangladesh and transporting it to Hyderabad via Kolkata.
Officers of its Hyderabad Zonal Unit and Vijayawada Regional Unit launched a coordinated operation after receiving specific intelligence about a gang involved in smuggling gold from Bangladesh, according to the DRI. Acting on the intelligence, DRI officers intercepted a Scorpio vehicle on the outskirts of Vijayawada.
During the search, they found foreign currency hidden inside a specially made cavity in the vehicle, the agency said.
All five accused, allegedly involved in procuring and transporting the contraband, were arrested and produced before the jurisdictional magistrate.
Based on the information obtained during questioning, officers traced three more suspected carriers travelling towards Hyderabad in a public bus. The bus was intercepted at a toll plaza, where the suspects were searched. They were subsequently remanded to judicial custody while the agency is continuing its investigation to identify other members of the suspected international smuggling network.
Officers recovered three foreign-origin gold bars weighing a total of 3,147.1 grams, or approximately 3.1 kg, from the three men.
