32kg gold seized in Siliguri, three arrested

Kolkata, June 1 (IANS) About 32 kgs of foreign origin gold valued at Rs 10.32 crore was seized from north Bengal and three persons were arrested in this connection, an official said on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off, officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 32 gold bars, bearing foreign inscriptions and weighing one kg each, from three persons on Thursday night in Siliguri, the official said.

During the preliminary inquiry, the three admitted that they were carrying gold bars of foreign origin that had been smuggled into India from China through the Indo-China border in Sikkim, a DRI statement said.

When they were searched, three specially tailored cloth belts having several pockets and secured by metal zip fasteners were found fastened around their waist, it said.

The three are natives of Maharashtra.

On further inquiry, it was discovered that the intercepted persons have a temporary residence in Siliguri which was also searched by the DRI officers on Friday morning.

The officers recovered Indian currency worth over Rs 20.19 lakh, which was part of the sale proceeds of the smuggled gold, the three men said.