Gold smuggling racket via Dubai-Ahd route busted

In a major crackdown exposing deep loopholes in airport security, Surat Special Operation Group (SOG) has busted a gold smuggling racket being operated through Dubai flights to Ahmedabad and onward train journeys to Surat.

- FPJ News Service

A young diamond artisan, Bhavik Praveen Kataria (20), was arrested with 239.5 grams of gold paste worth Rs26.34 lakh, even as the mastermind of the racket, Nirali Rajput of Surat, has been declared wanted and is believed to be operating from Dubai.

According to sources, the gang shifted its smuggling hub from Surat airport to Ahmedabad airport after a couple was caught with nearly 25 kg of gold worth Rs25.57 crore in July. The latest bust raises sharp questions over the effectiveness of Customs, DRI and ED, as smugglers repeatedly managed to sneak gold under the noses of multiple agencies and metal detectors.