DRI seizes 15 kg foreign-origin gold in Bengal

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized around 15 kg of foreign origin gold valued at Rs 4.72 crore from the Barasat area near here.

Inputs suggested that the gold, smuggled from Bangladesh into the country from North 24 Parganas district, was being ferried in a vehicle towards Kolkata for further delivery, a statement issued today by the DRI said.

One person has been arrested and a Bolero vehicle, in which the gold was being carried, has been seized on Wednesday, it said.

The seized gold biscuits weighing 15 kg had foreign markings 'Al Etihad' and 'Suisse', the probe agency said.

In the current financial year so far, in the region spread over West Bengal and the north eastern states, the DRI has seized over 105 kg of gold and gold jewellery valued at close to Rs 31 crore in the market, smuggled from Bangladesh, Myanmar and even Bhutan.

In the financial year 2017-2018, the DRI had seized close to 430 kg of gold and gold jewellery in the east and north east region collectively valued at more than Rs 100 crore.