State police have busted an inter-state gold smuggling racket and arrested five persons from Meghalaya and Assam besides recovering seven gold biscuits of foreign origin worth Rs 50 lakh and Rs 27 lakh in cash.
Director General of Police L R Bishnoi informed that acting on a tip off, one Abu Bakkar was arrested in Ri-Bhoi district enroute to Assam on June 24 which led to the recovery of 819 gm foreign origin gold biscuits concealed in his waistband, the DGP said.
During interrogation, it was revealed that the nexus is larger. Following the lead given by Bakkar, one Shah Jahan of Barpeta was arrested in a joint operation with Assam Police and Rs 27 lakh in cash was seized from him. His accomplice – Siddique Ali – also from Barpeta was also arrested.
Subsequently, a team was formed and raids were conducted and based on the leads provided by the arrested pair, one Aziz Lyngdoh of Laban and Subali Kharbani of Mawlai were arrested.
From the possession of the five arrested people, 10 mobile phones, ATM cards and fake ID cards were seized. Further investigation is on, Bishnoi added.
He said that an inter-state gang is operating to smuggle gold from Bangladesh to India and that the gold smuggling route is from Bangladesh – Meghalaya – Guwahati -Siliguri and the rest of India.
