Three gold smugglers arrested in Shillong, Rs 1 Cr gold seized

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 24, 2023

Three persons were arrested in the city for their involvement in smuggling gold of foreign origin worth over Rs 1 crore. 

Acting on specific information that a sizable quantity of gold of foreign origin smuggled through the Indo-Bangladesh borders of Meghalaya would be carried in a car to Guwahati, officers of commissioners of customs preventive (CCP) Shillong intercepted a Mahindra XUV500 car in the early morning of September 23, at Jhalupara, Shillong. 

The car had one occupant who was based in Rangia in Assam, though originally from West Bengal.

On interrogation, he confessed that smuggled gold of foreign origin was in his possession. 

Thereafter, 14 pieces of gold, which were packed in two plastic pouches were recovered. Total weight was 1632.450 grams valued at Rs 1,01,78,326, the CCP said in a statement.

It said specific details of a middleman who had handed him 7 pieces were gathered and on a swift follow-up action, the officers of CCP intercepted the said person at Jhalupara. 

He further revealed that he had collected the gold from a lady at a shop at Barabazzar Shillong. 

A further operation at the said shop resulted in recovery of Rs 9.5 Lakh which is admitted to be sale proceeds of smuggled gold, which was also seized.

The lady was also interrogated, and it was revealed that the gold was smuggled from the Indo-Bangladesh border. 

Three persons have been arrested and further investigation is in progress, the CPP said.

It may be mentioned that in another case in the last one month, the officers of CCP Shillong have seized 5 gold biscuits weighing 582.70 grams, recovered from a person travelling in a Maruti 800 car which was intercepted near Jorabat.

This gold was smuggled from the Indo-Bangladesh border at Bholaganj. Immediate follow up at a house in Lumparing from which the gold was collected resulted in recovery of Indian currency amounting to Rs. 3.96 Crore, believed to be sale proceeds of smuggled gold, which was also seized. 

Further investigation is in progress.

Meanwhile, the CCP said that Customs remains committed to combating all types of cross border crime involving smuggling of Gold, Cigarettes, drugs and narcotics, wild life articles, Fake Indian Currency Notes, import-export frauds and trade based money laundering.  

Customs works in close partnership with various other law enforcement agencies. 

Anybody can support the fight against Cross Border crime, Smuggling and Trade Based Money laundering by giving information to Customs. The names of informer are not only kept confidential, but there is an excellent reward scheme also, which is Income Tax free, it said.