Delhi's DRI busts organised smuggling rings, nets 14 crore gold haul

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has announced a major success against organised smuggling networks operating in and around the capital. Over the past week, 20 alleged participants were detained, including five non‑Indian nationals.

The agencies retrieved roughly 9.5 kilograms of gold, with a market value close to 14 crore rupees. In conjunction with the metal, law‑enforcement officials seized heroin, MDMA tablets, amphetamine crystals, hydroponic marijuana, red sandalwood, restricted wildlife derivatives, e‑cigarette cartridges and even imported poppy seeds.

A notable seizure occurred at Indira Gandhi International Airport when two foreign citizens arriving from Dubai were intercepted; their baggage contained four kilograms of gold bars sourced from abroad. Parallel operations along the India‑Bangladesh border resulted in another 3.2 kilograms of foreign‑origin gold being confiscated.

Additional gold, amounting to about 2.2 kilograms, was recovered in coordinated raids across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Tamil Nadu. In Manipur, a vehicle near Churachandpur was halted, exposing 2.7 kilograms of heroin hidden in 220 soap containers, which led to two more arrests.

The DRI’s multi‑pronged campaign demonstrates a continued commitment to breaking the supply chains of high‑value contraband and narcotics that threaten national security.