With increased vigilance on incoming foreign flights into Gujarat and the state’s model code of conduct in place for the assembly elections, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a total of 3.17 kg of gold worth Rs1.66 crore in two separate cases as the precious metal was being smuggled into Surat in the first week of November.
Three passengers, two men and one woman, who arrived at Surat International Airport from Sharjah on November 9 were imprisoned based on specific intelligence. Following a thorough investigation and X-ray scanning, 7 gold paste capsules hidden in their body were discovered, from which 1,941.28 gm of foreign origin gold was retrieved and seized. The market value was calculated to be Rs 1.03 crore. On November 2, the DRI stopped two passengers travelling from Sharjah to Surat and discovered gold paste concealed in their bodies in capsule form and underwear. In this case, the total amount of gold recovered and seized was Rs 63.25 lakh.
According to officials, the Election Commission’s Static Squad seized gold jewellery worth Rs 37 lakh from one Hitesh Radadiya, who was carrying 88 gold and diamond jewellery pieces without necessary bills. He had stolen the jewellery in Mumbai and was apprehended before delivering it to a jeweller in Mahidharpura.