The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) announced on Tuesday that it had dismantled an international gold‑smuggling ring, seizing 691.870 grams of 24‑carat gold valued at approximately Rs 1.10 crore in Mumbai.
The Mumbai Zonal Unit of the agency arrested two individuals: a Chinese national and a person linked to an importing firm. The arrests followed an operation that began with intelligence on a consignment of treadmills imported from Hong Kong.
DRI officials intercepted the shipment at the Air Cargo Complex in Mumbai and, during inspection, discovered an arc‑shaped gold bar hidden inside the motor of an imported treadmill. The concealed 691.870‑gram bar was recovered as part of the seizure.
After the seizure, DRI teams conducted searches in several locations, including Mumbai, Chennai, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu. The investigation revealed that the smuggling network, allegedly run by Chinese nationals in collaboration with Indian accomplices, used legitimate commercial imports to conceal gold. The agency reiterated its commitment to dismantling organized smuggling networks and preventing the illegal movement of precious metals.
