87kg gold seizure in West Bengal's Siliguri is country’s biggest

KOLKATA: In the largest ever gold seizure by law enforcement agencies in the country, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence have seized 87kg gold near Siliguri. The yellow metal, valued at Rs 25 crore, was on its way to Kolkata after being smuggled from Myanmar through the porous India-Myamnar border in Manipur.

Two persons have been arrested. They were produced before a court in Siliguri on Saturday.

The seizure has once again brought the spotlight on smuggling in northeastern states.

Acting on a tip-off, DRI sources intercepted and searched a four-wheeler near Siliguri on Friday. Initially nothing was found in the car. But later, packets of gold were found inside the car's bonnet. The recovery of the huge quantity of gold startled even the DRI officials.

Intelligence officials refused to divulge the identity of the arrested duo for the time being. But during interrogation, they got to know that the duo was supposed to hand the consignment over to local dealers in Kolkata.

It is believed that smugglers have changed their modus operandi and started sneaking into the country with gold in small tranches after border patrolling was stepped up recently.

The country's porous borders with countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan in northeastern states have always been a cause of concern for the law enforcement agencies. Lack of surveillance infrastructure in this area, many parts of which are geographically inaccessible, has given rise to trans-border crimes.

Last year, Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh wanted to replace Assam Rifles personnel by Border Security Force to enhance patrolling along the India-Myanmar border.

Myanmar has long been troubled by smuggling rackets that are involved in narcotics, gold and fake currency notes.

Intelligence officials believe the mountainous paths are also used by extremist outfits to smuggle weapons.

In February, Gujarat Police had made its single biggest seizure of gold — 60kg — which was so far the largest gold seizure in the country before the Siliguri incident. Last month, revenue intelligence officials seized 55kg gold from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi