Siliguri, 24th May: In a significant breakthrough, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) team has successfully foiled a gold smuggling operation from Bhutan via Siliguri in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur. The DRI team apprehended three individuals on charges of smuggling. The arrested individuals have been identified as Sarwan Kasaudhan (23), Ajay Gupta (24), and Alok Kumar (20). Sarwan and Alok are residents of Uttar Pradesh, while Ajay hails from Kolkata.
According to sources, the DRI received a tip regarding an upcoming gold smuggling attempt through Siliguri from Bhutan. Acting promptly, the DRI team launched an operation near the Fatapukur Panikauri toll plaza. During the operation, the team intercepted a passenger vehicle heading towards Siliguri and detained the three youths inside. They were subsequently brought to the DRI office in Siliguri for further investigation.
Upon thorough inspection, the DRI team discovered four pieces of gold biscuits, weighing a total of 2 kilograms, concealed within the shoes of the arrested individuals. The gold biscuits bear an Australian mark and have an estimated market value of Rs 1 crore 20 lakh 44 thousand. The DRI arrested the three individuals for their involvement in gold smuggling, as they failed to produce valid documents related to the gold. Today, all three suspects were presented before the Siliguri court.
According to DRI sources, this case is linked to international gold smuggling. Preliminary investigations have revealed that on May 23, the three arrested individuals travelled to Jaigaon, where they received the gold from a Bhutanese woman. DRI counsel Trideep Saha stated that the three youths have been apprehended in connection with an international gold smuggling operation and were presented in the Siliguri court today. The court ordered the suspects to be kept in judicial custody until Monday. The seized gold is of Australian origin. The DRI has also initiated efforts to locate and apprehend the Bhutanese woman involved in the case.