DRI Seizes Gold Worth Rs 8.98 Crore Near Visakhapatnam, Two Arrested

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 5.83 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at Rs 8.98 crore near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, arresting two men accused of transporting the precious metal as part of an alleged smuggling operation.

The seizure followed specific intelligence received by the DRI’s Visakhapatnam unit about the movement of illegally transported gold. Acting on the information, officials stepped up surveillance along a national highway and tracked a car travelling from Kolkata to Hyderabad.

The vehicle was intercepted during the night of October 8–9. After questioning the two occupants, DRI officers conducted a thorough inspection of the car to identify any concealed contraband.

During the search, officials discovered a specially constructed secret compartment beneath the front passenger seat’s footwell. Three packets hidden inside the compartment contained a total of 5,832.90 grams of gold, the agency said.

According to officials, the seized metal was foreign-origin gold with a purity of 24 carats and a fineness of 999. Its estimated market value was calculated at Rs 8.98 crore, making it a significant seizure in the region.

The DRI stated that the accused allegedly admitted to bringing the gold into India illegally through the India–Bangladesh border before arranging its transportation to Hyderabad. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the consignment and the suspected smuggling route.

The gold was confiscated under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, which provides the legal framework for action against customs-related offences, including the illegal import of goods.

Following their arrest, both men were produced before the jurisdictional magistrate and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.

The seizure underscores the role of intelligence-led surveillance and vehicle inspections in detecting suspected gold-smuggling activities. Further investigation is expected to focus on identifying the source of the gold, tracing the network behind its transportation and determining its intended recipients in Hyderabad.

Authorities have not disclosed further details about the identities of the accused or the wider network allegedly involved in the operation.