In a major crackdown on gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, intercepted three Iranian nationals arriving from Dubai and seized 7.143 kg of smuggled gold valued at ₹6.28 crore.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, DRI officials detained the passengers upon their arrival in Mumbai. A thorough personal search revealed seven foreign-marked gold bars, each weighing one kilogram, along with a cut piece of another gold bar. The gold was concealed in waist bags worn underneath the clothes of two passengers.
During questioning, the two passengers confessed to smuggling the gold for monetary benefits at the behest of the third passenger, who also admitted to his involvement.
The seized gold, worth ₹6.28 crore, has been confiscated under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. All three passengers have been arrested, and further investigations are underway.