87kg gold haul in Bengal is country’s biggest
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.