DRI seizes gold worth Rs 7.825 crore in Chennai, arrests customs officer and four others

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI ) arrested five men, including a customs officer at Chennai international airport, on Saturday after busting a gold smuggling syndicate and seized of 23kg of gold worth Rs 7.825 crore.

The name of the officer and other accused have not been revealed.

In an official communication sent on Sunday evening, the DRI said it detained four passengers who arrived at Anna International Airport from Singapore and Malaysia on Saturday, carrying 12.95kg of gold bars.

The customs officer, who was waiting to receive the gold from them on behalf of a receiver and who was planning to allow the passengers leave the airport undetected, was also detained.

DRI’s follow-up search at the receiver’s residence and that of a near relative resulted in seizure of further 10.2kg of smuggled gold, as well as Rs 24.43 lakh in cash.

Later, while searching a grey market shop owned by the receiver, DRI officials recovered 48 drones (restricted for import) valued at about Rs 23 lakh, and several high-end cameras and accessories. The passengers intercepted at the airport also were carrying high valued cameras and camera accessories for the same person.

The arrested five men, including the customs officer, had admitted to their involvement in the crime, the DRI said.

Courtesy: Times Of India