Gold worth Rs 13 crore seized at Vijayawada, Secunderabad, 12 arrested

Hyderabad: In one of the biggest seizures of gold by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in recent times, the Hyderabad unit has seized 31.5 kgs of gold valued at Rs 13.3 crore from various locations at Vijayawada and Secunderabad. Twelve persons carrying the smuggled gold through trains and bus were arrested at different locations in four different cases in the past two days. They were travelling from Chennai, where they had purchased the gold, to Warangal, where they were to hand over the gold to the mastermind behind the whole venture.

On Friday night, the DRI’s Nellore unit intercepted three passengers travelling from Chennai to Warangal in the Jaipur SF Express (Train No. 12969) at Vijayawada station. They were carrying gold in packets concealed inside the luggage bags. On being questioned, they said the gold bars were made from smuggled foreign gold. The gold weighed 7,228 grams and was valued at Rs 3,05,77,824 in the local market. Police have arrested the three persons.

Meanwhile, in the early hours of Saturday, DRI Vijayawada unit intercepted three passengers travelling from Chennai to Warangal in the GT Express (Train 12615) at Vijayawada station. They were carrying gold in packets concealed inside their clothing. The gold weighed 7,077 grams and was valued at Rs. 2,99,38,375 in the local market. The three passengers have been arrested.

In yet another instance, DRI Hyderabad and Vijayawada units on Saturday night intercepted four passengers travelling to Warangal via Vijayawada by a TSRTC bus at Kanakadurga Varadhi bus stop, Vijayawada. They were traveling from Chennai to Warangal by train but had got off the train at Kavali station and taken a bus to Ongole. From there they boarded a bus to Guntur, and from Guntur they were taking a bus to Warangal via Vijayawada. They had concealed the gold inside their clothing. They also admitted to purchasing the gold in Chennai and were travelling to Warangal to hand it over. The gold weighed 6,470 grams and was valued at Rs. 2,73,68,100 in the local market. The police have arrested the trio.

The DRI Hyderabad on Sunday also arrested three passengers travelling from Chennai to Hyderabad at Secunderabad station. They had concealed the gold in secret pockets in their trousers. On further enquiry, they admitted they had carried cash to Chennai, purchased the smuggled gold, and were to deliver it to Hyderabad. The gold weighed 10,709.44 grams and was valued at Rs. 4,53,00,927 in the local market. The three have been arrested and further investigation is underway, said DRI officials.