DRI Seizes 17 kg Smuggled Gold Worth ₹25 Crore, Arrests 10 in Coordinated Raids
In a major crackdown on organised gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized nearly 17 kg of foreign-origin gold worth around ₹25 crore and arrested 10 persons in coordinated operations conducted in Kolkata and Agartala .
According to officials, the raids targeted well-organised smuggling syndicates operating through airport and border routes in eastern and northeastern India.
In Kolkata, DRI officers intercepted a network attempting to smuggle 11.6 kg of gold from Thailand through Kolkata airport on June 12. The seized gold is estimated to be worth approximately ₹17 crore . Seven individuals, including a woman, were arrested in connection with the case.
In a separate operation on the same day, DRI officials seized around 5.1 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at nearly ₹8 crore in Agartala. Authorities said the gold had been smuggled through the Tripura sector of the Indo-Bangladesh border . Three persons were arrested during the operation, which was carried out in coordination with the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
The twin seizures underscore the persistent challenge posed by organised economic crime , particularly gold smuggling networks that exploit international travel corridors, porous border regions and transport infrastructure to move high-value contraband. Such activities not only result in revenue losses for the government but are also often linked to broader illicit financial networks.
Enforcement agencies have increasingly relied on intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency coordination to dismantle smuggling syndicates, which continue to adapt their methods to evade detection. The latest operation is being viewed as a significant success in efforts to disrupt illegal gold trafficking routes operating across India's eastern and northeastern regions.
Further investigation is underway to identify the wider network and trace the origins and intended destinations of the seized gold.