CHENNAI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials on Monday foiled a bid by gold smugglers who were using the borders of Myanmar to smuggle 9 kg of gold worth Rs 2.67 crore and transport it to Chennai using rail route from Kolkata.
On Monday, working on a tip-off, the DRI officials intercepted two passengers at Chennai Central Station, who had travelled by Howrah-Chennai Mail.
During interrogation, the officials recovered nine packets of gold bars wrapped in black colour adhesive tape from Maria Selvaraj. They said that the gold, which had foreign markings such as ‘Valcambi Suisse, was valued at Rs 2.67 crore and seized under the provisions of Customs Act, 1961.
It is learnt that Selvaraj admitted that he had been given the gold by a person of Myanmarese origin at Kolkata and he acted as a mere carrier out of monetary consideration.
Selvaraj, who was remanded in judicial custody, had taken a female passenger along with him to create an appearance of a family so that they could travel as tourists easily, hiding the contraband.