DRI Takes Action Against International Gold Smuggling Network Based in Mumbai and Operating Out of Zhaveri Bazar

A Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) team searched a melting facility in South Mumbai’s well-known Zhaveri Bazar on April 22 and found 9.31 kg of gold in various forms, including foreign-origin gold and 16.66 kg of silver, based on specific intelligence on the whereabouts of gold smuggled from Africa through Mumbai International Airport. The operator of the melting plant and a recruiter, a crucial component of the gang, who organized transporters and gathered the stolen gold for further processing, were also captured by the DRI MZU officers.

The authorities were notified that gold that was being trafficked from Africa via Mumbai International Airport was being refined at a melting plant in Zhaveri Bazar to eliminate any foreign identifiers before to being sold on the domestic market.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that the recruiter purchases gold from several couriers representing different African nationalities, processes it, and then delivers it to a customer in the vicinity.

When the recruiter’s office was searched again, he found USD 190,000, which the buyer had paid him as a down payment for gold that had been smuggled. Concurrently, an additional crew was sent to search the buyer’s office space. But when the cops got there, the buyer had already left. 351 grams of chopped fragments of gold bars of foreign origin, 1818 grams of silver, and Rs. 1.92 crores in cash were found and taken during the search.

After further investigation, it was discovered that the African nationals from whom the recruiter had taken the gold were lodged in two of Zahaveri Bazar’s neighboring hotels.

Consequently, two squads were sent out, and they caught the two African nationals who had smuggled the gold and given it to the recruiter. In accordance with the Customs Act of 1962, all four individuals—the recruiter, the melter, and the carrier—admitted to their roles in the smuggling of gold into India. As a result, they were all arrested and placed under judicial custody.

During this raid, DRI found 9.67 kg of illegal gold, 18.48 kg of silver, USD 190000, Indian cash worth Rs. 1.92 Cr, and gold worth Rs. 10.48 crore.