AGARTALA:
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on October 6 stated that the porous borders of Northeastern states, especially of Mizoram with Myanmar and Bangladesh, are extensively being used for gold smuggling.
In a press statement, the DRI said the recent seizure of gold from the North East indicated a spurt in smuggling through NE borders of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
“While the porous borders have been used for smuggling in the past, 11 cases of gold seizure amounting to 121 kg in September 2022 alone, show that the NE corridor is still extensively being used by smugglers who are deploying ingenious ways of concealment,” the statement read.
Acting on specific intelligence and in three coordinated interceptions at Patna, Delhi and Mumbai the DRI seized 65.46 kgs of foreign origin gold worth Rs 33.40 crore. The gold was transported from Aizawl to Mumbai in domestic courier consignment, and was concealed in gunny bags declared as clothes.
In yet another case of smuggling through the same route, the DRI seized another big haul of smuggled foreign origin gold weighing approximately 23.23 kg and valued at Rs 11.65 crore (approx.) which was being smuggled from Myanmar.
“Specific intelligence indicated that an attempt will be made to smuggle substantial quantity of foreign origin gold from Champhai-Aizawl, Mizoram to Kolkata, West Bengal by carrying/concealing them in a vehicle. To interdict the contraband, coordinated action was undertaken on 28th – 29th September 2022. The DRI officers mounted surveillance on the highway connecting Siliguri – Guwahati,” DRI said.
It further said four passengers travelling in two suspect vehicles were identified and intercepted.
“The recovered gold had been smuggled into India from Myanmar through Zokhawthar border in Mizoram. Four persons have been arrested in the case so far. In the same month, DRI recovered and seized 27 kg smuggled gold from various carriers coming from North Eastern part of the country to the rest of the country. These series of detections have helped unearth novel modus operandi of smuggling foreign origin gold into India from the North Eastern part of the country,” it added.