Gold smuggling operation foiled: DRI seizes 6.8kg gold at Kempegowda International Airport

In a significant breakthrough, officers from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have dismantled a major gold smuggling operation at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials targeted a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok, leading to the recovery of 6.834 kilograms of gold clandestinely hidden in abandoned handbags on the aircraft.

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The concealed gold, found in both bar and crude forms, has been appraised at Rs 4.77 crore by a government-certified assayer. This meticulously executed operation saw DRI officers conduct a thorough search of the aircraft, guided by intelligence that indicated a syndicate’s plan to hide the gold during the international segment of the flight, intending for it to be retrieved later.

Documents discovered within the handbags, along with crucial information from the flight crew, enabled officers to pinpoint and apprehend two passengers who had abandoned the bags. During an intensive interrogation, the passengers confessed to their roles in concealing the gold on the aircraft.

The individuals involved have been arrested as authorities delve deeper into the smuggling syndicate's network and operations. Further investigations are ongoing to uncover additional details and potential collaborators in this sophisticated smuggling racket.

This successful interception underscores the DRI's vigilance and commitment to curbing illegal activities at international borders, reinforcing security and lawful conduct within the nation’s airports.