Major DRI Crackdown: Gold Worth ₹11.50 Crore Smuggled from Bangladesh Seized, 6 Arrested

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intensified its crackdown on cross-border gold smuggling from Bangladesh. During special operations conducted based on intelligence in the Eastern region on October 8 and 9, 2026, approximately 7.8 kilograms of foreign-origin gold were seized, with a total estimated value exceeding ₹11.50 crore. A total of six people were arrested during these actions.

The DRI Kolkata team intercepted a four-wheeler at the Dankuni toll plaza while it was traveling from Banpur, located near the Bangladesh border, toward Kolkata. Upon searching the vehicle, officials recovered 50 gold bars from the four occupants, weighing approximately 6.8 kilograms and valued at nearly ₹10 crore. Some of the seized bars bore foreign markings. During interrogation, the four arrested suspects confessed to smuggling foreign gold into India via Bangladesh. According to officials, the arrested individuals include the kingpin of a smuggling gang active in the Banpur border area.

As part of the same operation, inspections were carried out on passengers disembarking from trains at the Malda Town railway station and New Jalpaiguri railway station in West Bengal. Approximately 1 kilogram of foreign-origin gold, valued at around ₹1.5 crore, was recovered. Two passengers were arrested after failing to produce valid documents for the purchase of the gold. Investigations revealed that the seized gold, which was in the form of bangles and bars, had been smuggled across the India-Bangladesh border via Tripura.

These operations have highlighted that road and rail networks connecting the border areas adjacent to Bangladesh and the Northeast to major markets like Kolkata are being utilized for smuggling. The DRI stated that it remains committed to dismantling organized smuggling networks through intelligence and coordinated action.