Mumbai DRI Uncovers Gold Smuggling Syndicate

On Sunday, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested a 46-year-old Chinese national, Cheng Wing Hing, in connection with a gold smuggling case in Mumbai. The biggest challenge for the DRI officers was to extract information from Hing, as he did not understand English or any other Indian languages.

The DRI officers then got in touch with a Mandarin-language translator, who helped them unravel information about the syndicate and its operatives from Hing. According to DRI sources, specific intelligence indicated that a consignment imported by a private company at Air Cargo Complex Mumbai from Hong Kong was involved in the concealment of contraband gold.

The consignment, which consisted of 2 boxes declared to contain treadmills weighing 41 Kgs, was examined by DRI officers. On opening the motor by removing one of its magnets, an arc-shaped, yellow-coloured metallic object, purported to be gold, was recovered concealed therein. The officers recovered 691.870 grams of gold valued at Rs 1.10 crore.

The goods were to be delivered at a commercial premises in Andheri (East), Mumbai. Enquiries at the premises on September 04 led DRI officers to a hotel room in J.B. Nagar in Andheri (East), where Law Kai Chun aka Hugo Law, who had coordinated the consignment of gold, was staying. During the search at the hotel room, several dismantled treadmills, vibration machines and dismantling tools were recovered and seized by the DRI team.

The next day, a foreign national, later identified as Cheng Wing Hing, arrived at the premises to collect the belongings of Hugo Law and was intercepted by DRI officers. He was then arrested on September 06. The translator was given a set of questions by the DRI team, based on which he made inquiries with Hing.

Hing revealed in his statement that he had met Hugo Law in Hong Kong about three months prior to his visit to India and Hugo Law had disclosed to him that gold was being smuggled into India concealed inside imported machines. Hing also stated that his visit to India was sponsored by Hugo Law for the specific purpose of the smuggling operation and he remained in operational contact with Hugo Law and other members of the syndicate through WhatsApp.

The DRI's investigation has uncovered a gold smuggling syndicate allegedly controlled by Chinese operatives. The syndicate had been smuggling gold into India by concealing it inside imported machines. The arrest of Cheng Wing Hing and the seizure of Rs 1.10 crore worth of gold is a significant breakthrough in the case.

The DRI's efforts to crack down on gold smuggling have been ongoing, and this case is a testament to their dedication and hard work. The use of a translator to extract information from Hing was a crucial step in uncovering the details of the syndicate.

The case highlights the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat gold smuggling and other forms of organized crime. The DRI's investigation is ongoing, and further details about the syndicate and its operatives are expected to emerge in the coming days.

In conclusion, the DRI's arrest of Cheng Wing Hing and the seizure of Rs 1.10 crore worth of gold is a significant achievement in the fight against gold smuggling. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of cooperation and vigilance in combating organized crime.