DRI Arrests Five In ₹4.72-Crore Gold Smuggling Case

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested five people, including a local bullion trader and his son, in connection with a ₹4.72-crore gold smuggling case. The probe, which began after a seizure on the city bypass on August 14, has reached Indore's Sarafa Bazar.

The DRI arrested Deepak Khandelwal and his son Nakul Khandelwal from Kota, Rajasthan, on August 18. The duo had allegedly fled Indore after the DRI action and were hiding in Kota. The arrests were made four days after the seizure, but came to light on Saturday.

The investigation revealed that the smuggled gold had been transported to Indore from Akola, Maharashtra. Authorities are probing the role of people associated with the bullion market in distributing the gold in the city and passing it on to other traders.

During interrogation, the previously arrested accused allegedly revealed that the gold brought from Akola was to be delivered to the Khandelwals in the Tulsi Nagar area. The DRI subsequently began searching for the duo, who had allegedly fled the city. Their shop in the bullion market was also found closed.

After receiving information that the duo was hiding in Kota, a DRI team reached the city and arrested them. They were brought to Indore on transit remand for further interrogation. It is learnt that both accused discarded their mobile phones during their arrest in Kota.

The DRI suspects the phones may contain crucial evidence, including contacts, conversations and transaction details linked to the gold smuggling network. The agency is probing whether the phones were deliberately discarded to destroy evidence.

In a separate incident, a Kenyan woman was arrested by the DRI at Mira Road with 547 grams of cocaine and methaqualone. A Nigerian national allegedly waiting to collect the consignment was also arrested. The DRI is probing the source of the drugs, others linked to the network and whether the Indore-Mumbai route was regularly used for trafficking.

The gold smuggling case and the drug trafficking incident highlight the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat organized crime. The DRI's efforts to crack down on gold smuggling and drug trafficking are crucial in preventing the flow of illicit goods and substances into the country.

The case also underscores the importance of monitoring and regulating the bullion market, as well as the need for stricter laws and penalties to deter smugglers and traffickers. As the investigation continues, it is likely that more arrests will be made and additional evidence will be uncovered.

In conclusion, the DRI's probe into the ₹4.72-crore gold smuggling case has reached a significant milestone with the arrest of five people, including a bullion trader and his son. The case highlights the need for increased cooperation and vigilance between law enforcement agencies to combat organized crime and prevent the flow of illicit goods and substances into the country.