In yet another ingenious way of smuggling gold bars from the Gulf region into Bengaluru, sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) unearthed 120 gold bars, worth over Rs. 4.25 crore, concealed inside a large consignment of pressure pumps that arrived at the cargo complex of the Kempegowda International Airport recently. Cases of smuggling through air cargo have come to light in the city after a few years.
Sources from the DRI, Bengaluru, said the consignment of pressure pumps in four large cartons arrived at the cargo complex at the KIA on April 29.
Imported for Bharati Trading Company, Bengaluru, the consignment raised suspicion as no representative came forward to claim it after more than two weeks. Meanwhile, investigators received specific input that large quantities of gold bars would be smuggled through Bengaluru to Kerala.
“A few days back, we opened the cartons and found six small boxes inside. Further examination revealed 24 brand new pressure pumps. A scan of the pumps didn’t show anything and that is when our team cut open the aluminium motor shaft of a pump and found 15 blocks of gold hidden inside,” said a DRI officer who was part of the investigation team.
The team opened more pumps to reveal a total of 120 gold bars weighing 13.99 kg. The importer, identified as an agent from Malappuram, Kerala, had given a Bengaluru address for the import of the pumps. While the consignment clearing agent has been detained, the DRI has launched a hunt for the smuggler from Kerala who is suspected to have smuggled over a dozen similar consignments through the city airport.
Further probe and inspections are under way by the DRI sleuths into the goods being imported into the city through air cargo, sources added.
