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Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Business Standard
DRI busts gold melting unit in Mumbai, seizes gold worth ₹9 crore
Accordingly, the DRI's Mumbai Zonal Unit initiated action under the codename "Operation Alchemist" on Sunday night and uncovered the gold melting unit in the Masjid Bunder area Press Trust of India Mumbai The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a gold melting facility in south Mumbai, seized the yellow metal worth Rs 8.93 crore and arrested seven members of a crime syndicate, officials said on Monday. The central agency had specific intelligence about the facility involved in melting of smuggled gold brought to India from Dubai with the help of carrier passengers recruited by an organized syndicate, an official said. Accordingly, the DRI's Mumbai Zonal Unit initiated action under the codename "Operation Alchemist" on Sunday night and uncovered the gold melting unit in the Masjid Bunder area. Initially, a DRI team nabbed two persons, who were coming out of the facility and 8.74 kg of gold in bar form was recovered from their possession, he said. A search was conducted at the facility, where DRI officials found that two operators were melting smuggled gold and converting the precious metal into bars, he said. During investigation it surfaced that 18 egg-shaped capsules containing gold were smuggled into India earlier on Sunday after carrier passengers landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the official informed. The smuggled capsules were melted down at the facility into half a dozen bars weighing 8.74 kg. In a follow-up operation, the DRI apprehended two additional individuals involved in collecting the smuggled capsules along with a key person managing melting operations, he said. In all, seven accused persons were arrested and gold valued at Rs 8.93 crore was seized during the operation, the official said, adding further probe was underway.
News18
06-05-2025
- News18
Nagpur DRI Seizes Leopard Skins, Ivory In Ujjain Wildlife Trafficking Bust
Last Updated: The seized items fall under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which grants the highest level of protection to species such as leopards In a significant blow to wildlife traffickers, the Nagpur unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), under the Mumbai Zonal Unit, seized two leopard skins (with heads) and one ivory (wild boar horn) during a well-coordinated operation in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on May 4. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials intercepted two individuals at a hotel in Ujjain city, where the suspects were attempting to strike a deal involving banned wildlife articles. The early morning raid led to the recovery of the leopard skins and ivory, all of which are protected under Indian wildlife laws. The seized items fall under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which grants the highest level of protection to species such as leopards. As per the Act, any form of trade, sale, purchase, or possession of leopard parts is strictly prohibited and is considered a serious criminal offence. Following the seizure, both the accused and the confiscated wildlife materials were handed over to the District Forest Division, Ujjain, for further legal action. Forest officials have now launched a detailed probe to trace the supply chain and possible poaching networks behind the crime. This isn't the first time DRI Nagpur has cracked down on illegal wildlife trade. Earlier this year, in January 2025, the same unit seized a leopard skin in Akola district, Maharashtra, and apprehended three individuals. As enforcement agencies step up their vigilance, operations like these serve as a strong message to traffickers and reinforce India's commitment to protecting its rich and endangered fauna. First Published: May 06, 2025, 15:19 IST
