Siliguri, 01st August: In a major operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) successfully foiled an international gold-smuggling racket and seized a significant amount of foreign gold biscuits hidden inside specially fabricated shoe soles. The operation resulted in the arrest of two seasoned smugglers identified as Nizamuddin (52) from Uttar Pradesh and Ansarul Khan (42) from Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that the primary objective of the smugglers was to transport the gold to Delhi through Siliguri. The two accused, carrying international gold worth crores, were on their way to Delhi via the Agartala Rani Kamlapati train, boarding compartments (S-6) and (S-8). Acting swiftly, a team of DRI personnel boarded the train before it reached the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station last night, successfully apprehending the culprits.
During the search, the DRI team discovered 16 pieces of gold biscuits ingeniously concealed within the soles of the accused’s shoes. The total weight of the recovered gold amounted to 2 kilograms and 355 grams, with an estimated market value of over 1 crore 40 lakhs. Notably, the arrested individuals have a history of involvement in similar smuggling attempts. The DRI is currently conducting a comprehensive investigation into the entire matter.