DRI seizes Rs 8.98 crore in smuggled gold near Visakhapatnam

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized approximately 5.83 kg of foreign-origin 24-carat gold, valued at Rs 8.98 crore, near Visakhapatnam. The seizure occurred following a high-speed chase of a vehicle traveling from Kolkata to Hyderabad on the night of October 8–9.

Upon intercepting the car, officials discovered the gold hidden within a specially fabricated cavity located beneath the leg space of the front passenger seat. Investigators believe the gold was smuggled into India via the India-Bangladesh border. Two individuals were arrested and remanded to judicial custody under the Customs Act, 1962.

The incident has prompted discussions regarding highway surveillance effectiveness in Odisha, as the consignment reportedly traversed hundreds of kilometers through the state without detection. In related enforcement actions, the DRI also reported intensified crackdowns on cross-border smuggling in the eastern region, resulting in additional seizures of gold and the arrest of several others.