In a major success against smuggling activities, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Pune Regional Unit intercepted and apprehended a lady passenger arriving at Pune International Airport from Dubai, along with her accomplice. Acting on specific information received, DRI Pune officers mounted surveillance, leading to the discovery of a sophisticated smuggling attempt involving the concealment of gold paste.
The lady passenger, upon identification, was found carrying a white-colored belt containing approximately 5482.39 grams of gold paste. Additionally, a pouch with off-white color, containing around 1432.28 grams of gold paste, was also seized from her possession. The vigilant officers did not stop at the passenger alone; her associate traveling with her was also apprehended at the airport.
The total haul of gold, amounting to 5.67 kilograms and valued at approximately Rs. 3.66 crore, was extracted from the gold paste weighing 6.9 kilograms. This significant seizure has been made under the Customs Act, 1962. Both individuals involved in the smuggling attempt have been arrested and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
The modus operandi of concealing gold in paste form reflects the evolving tactics employed by smugglers to evade detection. The DRI Pune Regional Unit is actively engaged in further investigations to unravel the network and ascertain the extent of this smuggling operation.
