CHENNAI: Sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Sunday busted a gold smuggling racket as part of which the metal was brought from the Indo-Myanmar border to Tamil Nadu. An employee of the Central Public Works Department was one of the two persons arrested in an operation lasting several hours. The agency arrested another gang and made a total seizure of 8.8 kg of gold bars worth Rs. 26.7 million.
Acting on specific intelligence that gold bars were being smuggled into India from Myanmar and transported to Tamil Nadu, the DRI Chennai Zonal Unit, formed special teams to investigate. The teams kept tabs on a couple of suspects, including Krishnan, a CPWD employee.
Following a tip-off, investigators intercepted Hussain Mohammed who arrived in Chennai by air from Kolkata on June 10. Another team boarded the Howrah-Chennai Mail in Howrah and zeroed in on Krishnan who was carrying baggage containing 35 foreign gold biscuits. He was detained on arrival in Chennai early on Sunday.
Another gang that was travelling in the same train was also intercepted by DRI officials. Sheikh Mohamed, Sasikumar and Moosa who were in possession of 18 bars were also arrested. The gold bars were also suspected to have been procured in Myanmar.
The five accused persons belong to Vyasarpadi in Chennai and were arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The gold bars were concealed in customised travel baggage.
