Siliguri, 01st July: A new method of gold smuggling has come to light, as smugglers have resorted to using shoes, bangles, and now even clothes to transport the precious metal. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recently made this revelation when the Siliguri DRI unit uncovered a gold smuggling operation during a campaign at New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station. The operation resulted in the arrest of a person identified as Vikash Kumar (35), a resident of Gopalganj in Bihar.
Investigations have revealed that a plan was devised to smuggle gold from Agartala, located on the Indo-Bangladesh border, to Bihar. According to the plan, Vikash Kumar concealed gold biscuits in his socks and boarded the Tripura Sundari Express destined for Chhapra in Bihar. Acting swiftly upon receiving information, the Siliguri DRI Unit launched an anti-smuggling operation at NJP Railway Station. Vikash Kumar was apprehended on platform number 05 of the station while travelling on the train.
During the search, the DRI team discovered 11 pieces of gold biscuits hidden inside Vikash Kumar’s socks. The total weight of the recovered gold has been estimated at 1 kg 628 grams, with a market value of approximately Rs 94 lakh 72 thousand 985. Today, the DRI team presented Vikash Kumar before the Siliguri court, charging him with gold smuggling.