International gold smuggling ring busted in North Bengal

Based on a tip-off, sleuths of DRI laid a trap in front of the Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus on the Hill Card Road, Siliguri.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence busted an international gold smuggling racket in Siliguri in West Bengal that was operational in different parts of the country. Three persons hailing from Maharashtra were arrested in this connection.

Based on a tip-off, sleuths of DRI laid a trap in front of the Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus on the Hill Card Road, Siliguri. The three were nabbed from there. The arrested include Sachin Patil (24years) from Shrigaon, Maharashtra; Krishna Shanker Kirdat (25 years) and Uttam Dilip Gujale (31 years) from Vasumbe, Maharastra.

They were taken to the DRI office and searched. All of them were wearing specially made belts in which the gold bars were hidden. The three were carrying gold bars of 1kg weight each.

The bars were 24 carat and had Swiss markings. A goldsmith certified the gold. The gold is worth Rupees 93 lakh 10 thousand.

Interrogation revealed that the gold was sourced through China into Bhutan. From Bhutan the three had smuggled the gold and were heading to Maharashtra through Kolkata. From Maharashtra, the gold would be dispatched to buyers throughout the country.

The three were produced at the ACJM Court in Siliguri on Wednesday.

"The three have revealed of the existence of an International smuggling ring that is operational in this region. There are local buyers for the gold too" stated Ratan Banik, Counsel representing the DRI.

The three were granted interim conditional bail as carrying illegal gold below the worth of Rs. 1 Crore is a bailable offense. They have been ordered not to leave the city and to report to the Investigating officer at regular intervals.

OneIndia News