Mumbai DRI Busts International Gold Smuggling Syndicate

In a major crackdown on international smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Mumbai has busted a gold smuggling syndicate, arresting six individuals, including three Philippines nationals. The operation, which was carried out on Thursday, also led to the seizure of gold worth ₹7.50 crore.

The accused have been identified as Bhandup resident Himanshu Upadhyay, Kurla residents Mohid Hasan Siddiqui and Feroz Sayyed, and Philippines nationals Lakim Alimudin Nasser, Benny Lloyd Olivo, and Christine Joy Andaya Pornasdoro. According to DRI sources, the syndicate was being operated with the help of private individuals working at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) premises.

The DRI had received specific intelligence that Himanshu Upadhyay, a contractual airport staff member, would be delivering smuggled gold to another staff member at the airport premises. Based on this information, DRI officers intercepted Upadhyay and recovered two black pouches containing smuggled gold dust in wax form.

Further investigation led to the identification of the transit passenger who had handed over the pouches to Upadhyay. The accused, Lakim Alimudin Nasser, revealed that two more passengers were waiting in the departure and transit area of CSMIA for further delivery. DRI officers then intercepted these individuals, Christine Joy Andaya Pornasdoro and Benny Lloyd Olivo, and recovered two similar pouches containing gold in wax form from their possession.

The total gold seized during the operation weighed 5,251 grams and was valued at around ₹7.50 crore. The accused informed the DRI that they were working on the instructions of an individual running the gold smuggling syndicate.

The role of each accused was clearly defined, with Feroz Sayyed collecting the smuggled gold from transit passengers and handing it over to Upadhyay, who would then pass it on to Siddiqui for delivery outside the airport. The three transit passengers revealed that they were working for a gold smuggling syndicate that smuggled gold through transit passengers from Dubai and Bangkok to Mumbai with the help of some individuals working at CSMIA.

The DRI operation has raised questions about the involvement of airport staff in smuggling activities. The accused have claimed that they were bona fide international transit passengers and had not intended to enter India.

The busting of the gold smuggling syndicate is a significant achievement for the DRI, highlighting the agency's efforts to curb smuggling activities in the country. The operation also underscores the need for increased vigilance at airports to prevent such activities.

The seizure of gold worth ₹7.50 crore is a substantial amount, and the DRI's action is expected to disrupt the smuggling network. The accused are likely to face legal action, and the DRI will continue to investigate the matter to identify other individuals involved in the syndicate.

In recent times, there have been several instances of gold smuggling at Indian airports, highlighting the need for stricter security measures. The DRI's operation is a step in the right direction, and it is expected to deter smuggling activities in the future.

The incident also raises questions about the security measures in place at Indian airports. The fact that the smugglers were able to operate with the help of airport staff is a cause for concern, and it is essential that the authorities take steps to prevent such activities.

Overall, the busting of the gold smuggling syndicate is a significant achievement for the DRI, and it highlights the agency's efforts to curb smuggling activities in the country. The operation is expected to have a positive impact on the country's economy, and it will help to reduce the flow of smuggled gold into the country.

The DRI's action is also expected to send a message to smugglers that they will not be tolerated, and it will help to disrupt their networks. The agency will continue to investigate the matter, and it is likely that more arrests will be made in the coming days.

In conclusion, the busting of the gold smuggling syndicate is a significant achievement for the DRI, and it highlights the agency's efforts to curb smuggling activities in the country. The operation is expected to have a positive impact on the country's economy, and it will help to reduce the flow of smuggled gold into the country.