Surat: In a significant operation, officers from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) dismantled a gold-smuggling syndicate operating from a hotel near the Ahmedabad International Airport, leading to the seizure of a substantial quantity of precious metal.The DRI confiscated a total of 10.32 kilograms of 24-karat gold, valued at Rs 7.75 crore, during the operation.

Acting on intelligence inputs, DRI officers discreetly monitored two passengers arriving from Abu Dhabi at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPI), along with two individuals awaiting their arrival. The interception took place near a hotel in the vicinity of the airport. Upon individual searches, DRI officials discovered 3596.36 grams of foreign-origin smuggled gold paste concealed in the passengers' undergarments.

Subsequent investigations led to the identification of other members of the syndicate staying in the hotel. Further interrogation revealed that one member had already departed Ahmedabad after receiving smuggled gold paste from another syndicate member, who arrived on an early morning flight and was en route to Mumbai by train. DRI officers intercepted the individual at Borivali Station and seized an additional 2,551.000 grams of gold paste.

Following leads obtained during interrogation, DRI officials intercepted another passenger of the same syndicate arriving from Dubai at SVPI Airport, resulting in the recovery of 5.5 kilograms of gold paste. In total, the seizure amounted to 10.32 kilograms of gold, with an estimated value of Rs 7.75 crore. The apprehended passengers and syndicate members confessed to smuggling gold paste from Dubai/Abu Dhabi and delivering it to their handlers in Ahmedabad.

All ten members, including the key handler, involved in the smuggling operation, were arrested under the Customs Act. The modus operandi of the syndicate involved a Chennai-based gold carrier gang operating through Ahmedabad Airport. Syndicate members smuggled foreign-origin gold paste with the help of individuals from Tamil Nadu acting as carriers.

A handler at a nearby hotel would receive the smuggled goods and deploy another individual to transport the gold to destinations such as Mumbai, Chennai, and other locations. Investigations revealed that the syndicate had been operational for the past four months.

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