Mumbai: The officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have unearthed a syndicate allegedly involved with n smuggling of gold into India and have arrested two Turkish nationals for allegedly smuggling gold worth Rs 13.28 crore.
The said operation is part of a larger effort to combat organised crime network that pose significant threat to India's economic security, agency officials said. The arrested foreign nationals have been identified as Bekir Ekmen (36) and Sinan Komurcu (51).
According to the DRI sources, based on specific information, two passengers - Bekir Ekmen and Sinan Komurcu who had arrived from Dubai at CSMIA, Mumbai on Saturday were identified and intercepted near the exit gate after they crossed the customs green channel.
During the personal search of both the passengers, 16 foreign origin gold bars (8 bars from each passenger, wrapped with transparent bubble wrap) were found concealed in the socks worn by the said passengers. The said 16 gold bars were found to be 24 kt gold bars weighing 1 kg each, collectively weighing 16 kgs valued at Rs. 13.28 crore.
Further, a document pertaining to declaration of 16 kgs of gold made before the UAE Customs in the name of Ekmen was also found in Ekmen's possession. Accordingly DRI inquired with Ekmen for the reason as to why only 8 gold bars were found in his possession to which he informed that he has handed over remaining 8 bars to Komurcu to divide the weight as he couldn't carry 16 kgs by himself. The said gold bars were being attempted to be smuggled into India in a clandestine manner as the said gold bars were not declared authorities by them before the Indian Customs, officials said.
"No entry/baggage declaration was made under the Act to declare the said gold that was brought into India from abroad and hence it does not correspond in respect of value or in any other particular. Further, the said gold bars were attempted to be removed from the customs area without the permission of the proper officer. During investigation, neither of the said two passengers were able to produce any legal document pertaining to the aforementioned 16 gold bars before the officers of DRI, Mumbai," said an agency source.
"During the voluntary statements neither of them have cooperated in the investigation and have given evasive replies as none of them has revealed any information in respect of the source of such huge amount of funds used for purchase of the seized gold bars, buyers of the smuggled gold in India and other members involved in the syndicate. In the ongoing investigation, more pieces of evidence are being gathered. Other key members of the syndicate are yet to be apprehended and all out efforts are being made in this regard. Further, sources for the purchase of the gold, distribution of the smuggled gold, transfer of money through illegal hawala channels etc. is being investigated," the official said.
