Gold racket busted in Siliguri, one arrested: DRI

A gold smuggling racket operating through the India-China border in Sikkim's Nathula was busted on Friday with the arrest of tbe mastermind.

Valued at Rs 8.62 crore, about 27 kg of gold bars, which were smuggled from China to India through Nathula border, was recovered in north Bengal's Siliguri, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said in a statement.

The accused, Sonam Topgay Bhutia, hailing from Gangtok, was intercepted on the Sevoke road in Siliguri when the smuggled gold was being carried from Nathula, the agency said.

Apart from the gold having foreign markings on them, an amount of Rs 10 lakh was recovered from his possession.

The accused was engaged in the business of export of handicrafts and cane furniture to China through Nathula border and he happens to be the President of the Nathula Border Trade Welfare Association.

"Interrogation of the intercepted person revealed that the recovered 27 kg of gold has been smuggled from China to India through Nathula border by him. The seized gold was supposed to be delivered to some persons based in Siliguri," the statement said.

With this seizure, in the current financial year, in the region spread over West Bengal and the north-eastern states, the DRI has seized 281.6 kg of gold and gold jewellery valued close to Rs 85.51 crore in the market. - IANS