The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has struck a hat-trick, seizing 28 kg of gold biscuits smuggled from Sri Lanka via the sea route in three separate incidents – one in Coimbatore and two in Ramanathapuram district. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI teams from Thoothukudi and Coimbatore made the seizures on Saturday after arresting at least seven persons and intercepting a car and two-wheeler, DRI sources said.
After making the first seizure of 14 kg of gold biscuits with foreign markings in Coimbatore on Saturday morning, DRI sleuths pursued fresh leads and made two seizures in Ramanathapuram and Sayalkudi in the evening and night. In Coimbatore, the seizure was made at the delivery end, the sources said.
DRI officials from Thoothukudi intercepted a two-wheeler at East Coast Road junction near here and seized 4 kg of gold, concealed in a bag. The arrested person was carrying the contraband after it was landed at Uchippuli seashore, the sources said. Pursuing another lead, the officials intercepted a car at Sayalkudi on Saturday night, and seized 10 kg of gold biscuits. Four persons who were in possession of the consignment, were arrested, and the car was seized, the sources said.
Five persons who were arrested in the district were produced before the jurisdictional court in Madurai on Sunday, and remanded in judicial custody, the sources said. This was the sixth seizure of smuggled gold in this region by the DRI and Customs preventive units since January this year. The DRI in its operations on January 1, February 23, March 27 and June 1 had seized 50.39 kg of gold.
