DRI seizes gold worth Rs 4.4 crore, seven arrested

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 12.5 kg of gold valued at Rs 4.4 crore in the metropolis and Siliguri and arrested seven persons under the Customs Act, officials said on Saturday.

In a drive against gold smuggling, the DRI booked two cases in Kolkata and Siliguri and seized 12.5 kg of gold valued at approximately Rs 4.44 crore, a statement issued by the agency said.

In the first case in Kolkata, three persons namely Sujit Rakshit, Sanjib Rakshit and Milan Swarnakar were arrested after intercepting them on VIP Road here on Friday and around 6.5 kg of gold was found concealed in waist belts worn by them.

During interrogation, they admitted that the gold was smuggled in from the Bangladesh border and meant to be delivered to a person in Kolkata.

In second case, DRI officers in Siliguri booked four persons including a lady after intercepting them at New Jalpaiguri railway station on Friday, the statement added.

During interrogation, they said their sole purpose was to offer the gold at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati.

However, 36 pieces of gold of foreign origin weighing six kg were seized.

With the present seizure, in the current financial year 62 kg of gold had already been seized by the DRI, the statement added.