DRI cracks down on gold smuggling from Bangladesh in Eastern Region; seizes over 7.8 kg foreign-origin gold; six arrested

Ministry of Finance DRI cracks down on gold smuggling from Bangladesh in Eastern Region; seizes over 7.8 kg foreign-origin gold; six arrested Intelligence-led operations expose a gold smuggling syndicate operating through the Banpur border area and routes connecting Tripura with Kolkata

Posted On: 11 OCT 2026 10:26AM by PIB Delhi The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intensified its crackdown on cross-border gold smuggling from Bangladesh, seizing around 7.8 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at more than Rs. 11.50 crore in intelligence-led operations conducted on 08–09 October 2026 in the eastern region. The operations exposed the use of road and railway networks to transport smuggled gold from border areas towards Kolkata, resulting in the arrest of six persons.Gold seized by DRI Kolkata in the operations The officers of DRI intercepted a four-wheeler at Dankuni Toll Plaza. The vehicle, carrying four persons, was travelling from Banpur, near the Bangladesh border, towards Kolkata. A search of the vehicle and its occupants resulted in the recovery and seizure of 50 gold bars, weighing around 6.8 kg and valued at approximately Rs. 10 crore. Some of the gold biscuits bore foreign markings. The occupants failed to produce any licit documents substantiating the lawful possession of the gold and, in their statements, admitted their involvement in smuggling foreign-origin gold into India through Bangladesh. Significantly, the kingpin of the syndicate operating in the Banpur border area was among the four persons arrested.

On the same day, DRI teams, in the state of West Bengal, intercepted passengers travelling from trains at two railways stations i.e. Malda Town Railway Station and New Jalpaiguri Railway Station and seized around 1 kg foreign origin gold, valued at around Rs. 1.5 crore from their possession. The two passengers were arrested after they failed to produce documents substantiating lawful procurement. The investigations indicated that the seized gold which was in form of bangles and gold bars had been made from gold smuggled across the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura.

These operations underscore the continued use of border areas along Bangladesh, as well as road and railway corridors linking the North-East with major markets such as Kolkata, for the movement of smuggled gold. DRI remains committed to dismantling organised smuggling networks through intelligence-led enforcement and coordinated action.**** KT/KMN (Release ID: 2321864)Visitor Counter : 453

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