Siliguri, 07th March: In a major breakthrough, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) of Siliguri unit has arrested two traffickers with gold biscuits worth over Rs 7 crore being smuggled in a four-wheeler. The arrested accused have been identified as Manjit (33) and Ankit (24), both residents of Haryana.
Sources revealed that DRI’s Siliguri unit had received a tip-off about smuggling of foreign gold into Delhi’s Gurgaon via Bihar, Fulbari-Ghoshpukur Bypass, and Siliguri. Based on the information, on Wednesday evening, the DRI team initiated a search operation in vehicles commuting on the Fulbari-Ghoshpukur Bypass. As soon as the team attempted to halt the four-wheeler, the vehicle fled from the scene.
Subsequently, the DRI team informed the Delhi unit, chased the vehicle and apprehended it from Araria in Bihar. During the search, the officials recovered 70 pieces of gold biscuits, weighing 11 kg 620 grams, from a hidden chamber inbuilt in the vehicle. The market value of the recovered gold has been estimated at Rs 7,54,13,800. Upon failure to show valid documents, the DRI team arrested the accused Manjit and Ankit.
On Thursday, the accused duo was produced before the Siliguri Court. Following the trial, the accused were sent to judicial custody of 14 days as per court orders. Currently, the DRI team is engaged in further investigation.