Trailing the leads post arrest of employees at the SVPI Airport in July 2022, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) finally nabbed the gold smuggling racket kingpin on Saturday. It may be recalled that two passengers and four employees of the Ahmedabad airport were arrested in connection with the network when 3.85 kgs gold was seized from carriers. As a fallout, the airport terminal manager and three contractual housekeeping staff at the airport were booked.
The consignment, 33 gold bars weighing 3.85 kg with a market value pegged at Rs 2.02 crore, was evading excise worth Rs 1.79 crore.
While the agents and links were arrested and still others being closely watched, the syndicate continued its operations from Gulf countries, making its way into India through the SVPI and the Mumbai International Airports.
Keeping tabs on the mastermind’s whereabouts finally led the DRI to seize him on arrival at the Mumbai airport on Saturday.