[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested five foreign nationals for allegedly trying to smuggle nearly half-a-million US Dollars (USD) out of India, officials said on Saturday (August 31).
The DRI, the enforcement arm of the Central Board of Indirect Tax and Customs (CBIC) on Wednesday (August 28) intercepted the five passengers at Terminal 3 of IGI Airport, officials told media personnel.
The five, all from Taiwan, were about to depart for Hong Kong, they said.
The USD 4,49,600 equivalent to Rs 3,25,51,040 was recovered when their checked-in baggage were examined. They were attempting to smuggle the foreign currency out of India, the officials added.
The foreigners also confessed to the DRI officials that they arrived at New Delhi from Hong Kong on August 25. They revealed that they are a part of a larger syndicate involved in smuggling of foreign origin gold into India and smuggling out of sale proceeds (foreign currency) out of India, according to media reports.
The recovered foreign currency was seized and the five arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, were on Thursday produced before a court which sent them to judicial custody for 14 days, the DRI officials added.
According to the DRI records, in the last three years, there has been a significant increase in the number of persons belonging to organized smuggling gangs engaged in smuggling of gold into India and foreign currency out of India.
During the financial year 2018-19, 210 foreign nationals were arrested for smuggling of gold into India and 35 foreign nationals were arrested for smuggling out foreign currency by the DRI and Customs field formations, the officials added.
Records indicate that even in the current financial year 2019-20 (from April till June 2019), 61 foreign nationals were arrested in smuggling of gold and 18 foreign nationals were arrested in smuggling of foreign currency, the official added.
In the financial year 2018-19, a quantum of 4,058 kgs of smuggled gold and foreign currency (mostly USD, Pound and Euro) equivalent to Rs 164 crore was seized by the DRI and other Customs field formations, the officials said, adding that in the current financial year 2019-20 (till June 2019), about 1,198 kgs of smuggled gold has been seized by the Customs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]