Officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence have seized 5.832 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at Rs 8.98 crore in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and arrested two persons suspected of ferrying the contraband. Acting on actionable intelligence, the agency’s Visakhapatnam unit intercepted a private car during the intervening night of October 8 and 9 along the national highway. A comprehensive search of the vehicle led to the discovery of three packets of gold concealed within a custom-built chamber beneath the front passenger seat, halting a cross-country consignment moving toward Hyderabad.
Highway Chase and Interception in Visakhapatnam
The operation commenced after intelligence personnel tracked the movements of a vehicle traveling from Kolkata toward southern India. Following verified leads, enforcement officers initiated surveillance across key stretches of the national highway before engaging the targeted car in a prolonged chase. Once the vehicle was brought to a halt, an initial inspection revealed no visible irregularities inside the cabin.
Sustained questioning of the two occupants and a detailed forensic search of the interior eventually alerted investigators to structural modifications. A concealed hollow space had been engineered beneath the floor panel of the front passenger seat specifically to withstand routine highway checks. Three securely wrapped packages containing a total of 5,832 grams of gold were extracted from the cavity, prompting the immediate detention of both travelers and the seizure of the car.
Cross–Border Infiltration and Transit Route
Preliminary inquiries by the DRI revealed that the foreign-origin bullion entered Indian territory across the international border with Bangladesh. From the borderlands of eastern India, the consignment was routed through Kolkata to be ferried overland across multiple states to its final destination in Hyderabad.
The method highlights the continued reliance on modified private transport to move high-value contraband across domestic transit corridors. By utilizing hidden vehicle compartments, operatives sought to bypass conventional transport checkpoints while navigating inter-state expressways. Agency officials took custody of the entire shipment, confirming that the haul holds an estimated market valuation of Rs 8.98 crore.
Wider Distribution Network Under Scrutiny
Investigators have turned their focus toward unravelling the logistics chain behind the operation, aiming to establish the identities of the organizers, handlers, and the intended recipient in Hyderabad. Officials are working to trace the financial and physical links that facilitated the passage of the gold from the international border to the coastal highway network.
While details regarding the specific identities of the two arrested individuals have been withheld pending further inquiry, the seizure represents a major disruption of regional transit routes. The DRI continues to examine vehicle records, communication trails, and local support elements to establish the complete scope of the smuggling ring.
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