Enforcement Directorate Conducts Search Operations In Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Seizes Huge Quantity of Gold, Silver and Cash
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has carried out search operations under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 on 05.08.2022, 06.08.2022 and 07.08.2022 at 21 premises in Chhattisgarh & 1 premise in Jharkhand, in respect to investigation relating to smuggling of foreign origin Gold and other precious metals through illicit channels from Bangladesh to Raipur via Kolkata.
ED initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of a Prosecution Complaint filed by DRI under Section 135 of the Customs Act, 1962.
A professional carrier of gold was caught by DRI while smuggling gold and precious stones through off routes and illicit channels.
DRI recovered Gold from his possession which was of foreign origin and was brought into India from Bangladesh through smuggling channel and was transported from Kolkata to Raipur for its consumption at Raipur by Vijay Kumar Baid alias Vicky and others.
A number of such cases have been booked by the law enforcement agencies against the offenders involved in the recent times.
During enquiries, it emerged that large scale smuggling syndicate is operating in the state of Chhatisgarh and nearby states.
The modus operandi of this syndicate is that foreign origin gold is being smuggled into the country and the route is that the smuggled gold is received in Myanmar from where it comes to Bangladesh and further enters the state of West Bengal; from West Bengal, the smuggled Gold reaches other states like Chhatisgarh through road transport and train transport.
During search operation, unaccounted/unexplainable gold bullion weighing around 3845-gram, Gold Ornaments weighing around 12810.63-gram, Silver weighing around 671.77 Kg, cash around Rs 1.41 Crore, documents related to sale/purchase of Gold/Silver and some digital devices recovered from the searched premises, have been seized. Further investigation is under progress
