*Biggest Gold seizure by DRI*
Information was received by DRI that a syndicate is involved in smuggling of foreign origin gold in various forms like ropes, wires, rods, discs etc. of various weights into India by concealing the same in import consignments, mainly melting scrap of different metals.
Officers of DRI laid a trap in the Dongri area of Mumbai and intercepted two vehicles, search of the vehicles resulted in recovery of 30 kgs of gold in the form of 2 circular discs concealed inside the scooter and 45 kgs of gold concealed inside the Honda City, also in the form of 3 circular discs. The total quantity of gold recovered was 75 kgs. One Abdul Ahad Zarodarwala, and Shaikh Abdul Ahad employee of Shoeb Zarodarwala were found driving the Honda city and the Activa respectively. Shoeb Zarodarwala was found seated in the Honda City.
Shoeb Zarodarwala and Abdul Ahad Zarodarwala in their statements admitted that they had received more than 200 kgs of foreign origin gold smuggled into India from one Nisar Aliyar and that the 75 kgs of foreign origin gold recovered from their possession was also received from Nisar Aliyar. They further stated that they had been selling the smuggled gold in the wholesale market for a commission; that one Raju @ Manoj Jain was their customer and they had sold around 100 kgs of smuggled gold to him (Raju @ Manoj Jain) in the past and were to sell 15 kgs of gold to him from the seized gold. They also stated that the money towards purchase of gold was sent through non-banking channel and had sent Rs. 12 crores of such money through one Aaquil Fruitwala. Shaikh Abdul Ahad in his statement stated that he had carried the 30 kgs of gold in the Activa Scooter as per his employer Shri Shoeb’s directions.
DRI Officers identified the place where Nisar Aliyar was put up and summoned him to DRI Office. In his statement recorded under the Customs Act, 1962, Nisar Aliyar confessed that he had smuggled more than 200 kgs of foreign origin gold into India from Dubai by concealing it in containers with Brass Scrap including the 75 kgs recovered by DRI. Nisar Aliyar stated that in addition to the gold sold to Zarodarwalas, he has also sold around 30 kgs of smuggled goods to one Happy Dhakad. Manoj Jain @ Raju was also located and in his statement admitted that he had bought around 111 kgs of foreign origin smuggled gold from Zarodarwalas in the last 3 to 4 months and that he was to received 15 kgs of gold from the quantity recovered by DRI.
Aaquil Fruitwala also confirmed that he had received Rs. 12 crores from Zarodarwalas which he had sent through Hawala channels to Dubai as a payment towards smuggled gold. Searches conducted at the residential premises of Zarodarwalas resulted in recovery of more than Rs. 40 lakhs of Indian Rupees which appeared to be sale proceeds of the smuggled gold. Also, 68 Lakhs of cash was recovered from an associate of Manoj Jain @ Raju. The office and residential premises of Happy Dhakad were located and searches were conducted by officers of DRI. Gold in cut form, (cut from discs similar to the discs seized from Zarodarwalas) to the tune of 20.4 kgs and 11.5 kgs in foreign marked bars was recovered. Further investigation is gougo on.
