DRI seizes Rs 15 crore worth ‘smuggled’ gold in Mundra port

Officers of the Gandhidham regional unit of DRI said as many as 52 gold bars, each weighing a kilo, were hidden in the rectangular metallic frame of a box containing an imported egg incubator. After they caught the consignment of the poultry egg incubator, the officers cut open the metallic frame to recover the gold bars bearing Dubai hallmark.
DRI officers said that the egg incubator was imported by Param Equipments Pvt Limited, owned by one Harnek Singh of Delhi. “This was his 49th consignment, imported at Mundra port. His 48th consignment, through which he managed to smuggle in 44 kg of gold, was seized by DRI, Delhi, on its way to the national capital from Mundra and Singh was arrested on May 13,” a DRI officer said. The consignment was being carried in a truck, which the Delhi unit of DRI intercepted.

Officers added that both times the gold bars were wrapped in papers and neatly placed inside the frames so that the precious metal did not produce any sound while handling.

Officers further said that Singh operated the smuggling racket with the help of a relative of his staying in Dubai.

“Singh used to send money to his relative through hawala for purchasing gold and smuggling it to India via sea route,” said an officer.

Sandeep Jot Singh, deputy director of DRI, Gandhidham told The Indian Express that the accused had smuggled 1,000 kg gold so far using the same modus operandi. “Documents seized by DRI officers in Delhi show that Singh was running the racket with the help of his Dubai-based brother-in-law Harveer Singh for the last one-and-a-half-year and has smuggled 1,000 kg of gold in the name of importing egg incubators. He had already imported 48 egg incubators before the one we seized today (Sunday),” said the deputy director.

The DRI officer added that after delivery, Singh would cut open the metallic pipe frame at his flat in Delhi and sell the smuggled gold in black market. “He would send remittances to Dubai through havala network,” added officer Singh.