The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 8.8 kg gold worth Rs 2.64 crore from an open plot at Jam Khambhalia town in Jamnagar district of Gujarat today, an official said.
The consignment was found stashed in a gunny bag and consisted of 58 gold biscuits of 100 grams each, besides three gold bars each weighing one Kg, a DRI official said.
The agency suspected that gold was of a foreign-make and those involved in its smuggling had fled before the DRI sleuths reached the spot.
"Acting on a tip-off when our team reached the spot, the suspect had fled leaving the bag behind," the officer said.
He said the main players involved in smuggling have a multi-layered network of agents in place.
"Because of multiple layers of agents, we could not trace the chief conspirator, but as per preliminary investigations gold is found to be imported from foreign countries," the officer added.
According to sources in DRI, the consignment was smuggled from Dubai to Kutch via sea and was later brought to Jam Kahmabhalia town.
The smuggling cases are on rise in the State with the DRI seizing whopping 46.3 kg gold from Surendranagar and 12 gold bars weighing 1 kg each from Mundra Port in Kutch district in April.
According to a DRI official, the smugglers are using the strategy that was in vogue during 1980s wherein gold was smuggled into the country via sea.
