DRI seizes 10 kgs gold smuggled into India from Bhutan

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized ten kilograms of gold, which was smuggled into India from Bhutan, in West Bengal's Siliguri area.

Acting on inputs, the DRI officials intercepted a car at Fulbari in Siliguri yesterday and arrested two persons, a statement issued today by the DRI said.

The officials recovered ten foreign origin gold bars of one kilogram each from them, it said.

The interception took place when the smuggled gold bars were being carried by the duo from Bhutan to Muzaffarpur, Bihar, the DRI said.

Interrogation of the two intercepted persons revealed that they had smuggled the gold bars of foreign origin from Bhutan into India through Jaigaon- Phuentsholling border, it said.

The recovered gold bars were handed over by some Bhutanese origin nationals to the accused persons at a hotel situated in Phuentsholling, Bhutan, where the same had been concealed stealthily in the carrier vehicle and was supposed to be delivered further down stream in India to others, the DRI said.

The total seizure value has arrived at Rs 3.18 crore.

Both the apprehended persons have been arrested.

On June 1, the DRI in the same region had effected a seizure of 32 kgs of gold (near Siliguri) which was smuggled from China through the Nathula border.

In the previous financial year (2017-2018), the DRI had seized close to 430 kgs of gold and gold jewellery in the East and North East region collectively valued at more than Rs 110 crore.

In the current financial year, starting from April 1 to till date, in the region spread over West Bengal and the North eastern states, the DRI has seized over 152 kgs of hold and gold jewellery valued at close to Rs 50 crore in the market, smuggled from Bangladesh, Myanmar ,Bhutan and even from China.