The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized 24.8 kg of gold worth ₹8.58 crore and electronic goods and cigarettes and arrested seven persons over four days.
On Thursday, officials found that 17.9 kg gold worth ₹6.24 crore was concealed in domestic appliances and gadgets like home theatres and microwave oven and smuggled in.
They also found many iPhones, smart watches, USB chips, camera lenses and cigarettes worth ₹1.1 crore. This apart, the officials seized Indian and foreign currency worth ₹33 lakh. The persons carrying the items revealed that the proceeds from the smuggled goods and the gold were to be remitted through hawala channels.
Officials also seized three sedans that were to used for transporting the goods to Mannady.
Working in coordination with their leader based in Malaysia, the gang used to identify passengers heading to India from Dubai, Malaysia and Singapore and coax them into carrying the appliances and gadgets. The passengers were expected to hand over the items to the members waiting outside the airport.
On February 18, DRI officials searched a flight and found 5.72 kg of gold worth ₹1.97 crore hidden in an aircraft seat. They also seized 1.13 kg of gold worth ₹37.41 lakh at the Tiruchi airport.
