Mumbai airport: DRI seizes Rs 1.10 crore gold hidden inside treadmill motor, 2 held

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI has busted an alleged international goldsmuggling network and seized gold worth Rs 110 crore that was concealed inside an imported treadmill at Mumbais Air Cargo Complex officials saidA Chinese national and a person linked to an importing firm have been arrested in connection with the case officials saidAccording to the DRI the investigation has uncovered an alleged smuggling operation involving Chinese nationals and their Indian associates who are suspected of using legitimate commercial import channels to bring gold into India concealed inside machineryGold concealed inside treadmill motorActing on specific intelligence DRI officials intercepted a consignment of treadmills imported from Hong Kong at the Air Cargo Complex in MumbaiDuring a detailed examination of the consignment officers recovered an arcshaped 24carat gold bar weighing 691870 gramsThe gold was allegedly concealed inside the motor of one of the imported treadmills The recovered gold was valued at approximately Rs 110 crore according to officialsThe concealment method was designed to make the gold appear to be part of the imported machinery investigators suspectChinese national among two arrestedFollowing the seizure the DRI arrested two people in connection with the alleged smuggling operationOne of those arrested is a Chinese national while the second is an individual associated with an importing firm officials saidThe agency is investigating their alleged roles in the import and concealment of the gold as well as their possible links to other members of the suspected networkThe arrests form part of an investigation into what the DRI believes may be a wider operation involving the use of commercial shipments to evade customs checksDRI investigates alleged international syndicateThe agencys preliminary investigation indicates that a group of Chinese nationals allegedly worked with Indian accomplices to smuggle gold into IndiaAccording to the DRI the suspected network developed a method of concealing gold inside machinery imported through legitimate commercial channels Such a method can potentially allow contraband to pass through cargo systems while appearing to be part of ordinary commercial consignmentsThe agency is examining whether similar shipments were imported previously and whether other individuals or businesses were involvedSearches conducted across four locationsFollowing the seizure DRI teams conducted searches at multiple locations as part of the investigationThe searches were carried out in Mumbai Chennai Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu officials saidInvestigators are examining material recovered during the searches and are also looking into the financial and logistical links between the arrested individuals and other suspected members of the networkProbe underway to identify wider linksThe DRI is continuing its investigation to determine the full extent of the alleged smuggling operation and identify any additional people involvedOfficials are also examining the import documentation and other details associated with the treadmill consignment from Hong KongWith inputs from PTI