India seizes gold worth Rs.68mn smuggled from SL, Dubai

India has arrested four people for allegedly trying to smuggle gold valued approx. Rs.68 million (Indian Rupees) into the country from Dubai and Sri Lanka, NDTV reported.

According to the Indian Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), all the four accused have been remanded in judicial custody.

Acting on inputs, the DRI officials on Tuesday seized 20.6 kg gold, valued at Rs.68 million, kept hidden by the syndicate  at a residential premise in the city.

A BMW car used to deliver the smuggled gold and Rs. 2.1 million were also seized.

"Interrogation of the apprehended persons revealed that the Chennai-based kingpin, a resident of Choolaimedu, used to organise operatives who would work in the domestic sector to various airports, collect gold bars from transit passengers at the respective airports and carry them back to Chennai in the domestic sector and hand them over to the kingpin and his aides," the DRI said.

Investigation revealed that the seized gold was smuggled from Dubai to Chennai through Mumbai in this manner, it said.

"A part of the gold was also smuggled directly from Sri Lanka to India through the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu," the probe agency said.