In a major crackdown against organised smuggling networks, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized foreign-origin gold, narcotic drugs, prohibited wildlife products, e-cigarettes, and other contraband. The Ministry of Finance today informed that the operations led to the arrest of 20 persons, including five foreign nationals. During the week, in a series of intelligence-driven operations carried out across the country, DRI officers made several significant seizures.

 

In one of the major operations on the 29th of July, DRI officers intercepted two foreign nationals at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and seized 40 foreign-origin gold bars weighing four kilograms.

 

In another operation targeting prohibited imports, the officers uncovered an attempt to import around 14 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin Guggul resin, valued at approximately 1.4 crore rupees, through misdeclaration of its description and country of origin. The consignment had been falsely declared as natural resin originating from Somalia and was routed through Dubai.

 

As part of its crackdown on cross-border narcotics trafficking, DRI officers intercepted a vehicle in Churachandpur, Manipur, arrested two individuals, and recovered around 2.7 kilograms of narcotic drugs concealed inside 220 soap cases. In two separate operations in Mumbai, DRI officers intercepted two foreign women nationals who had travelled from Delhi and recovered synthetic narcotic drugs concealed in specially fabricated cavities in their baggage.

 

In Mizoram, DRI officers searched four suspected godowns near the Indo-Myanmar border and recovered restricted items valued at around 3.6 crore rupees. Preliminary investigations indicate that the goods had been smuggled into India through the Zokhawthar sector of the Indo-Myanmar border.