DRI, Assam Rifles seize gold biscuits and cash from two jewellery shops in Agartala, 3 arrested

In a first major crackdown on smuggling of gold and financial crimes in the first part of New Year, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in a joint operation with the Assam Rifles, seized a huge quantity of gold biscuits and unaccounted cash during raids conducted at Shantipara and Dhaleshwar areas of Agartala on Tuesday night.

Based on specific intelligence inputs, the Assam Rifles carried out the operation and recovered gold biscuits weighing around 14 kg, valued at approximately Rs 19 crore. In addition, Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.87 crore was also seized from two jewellery shops.

Official sources said that acting on secret inputs, the joint operation was conducted at Shantipara in the heart of the capital city and in Dhaleswar on the outskirts of the city and arrested three persons, identified as Kunal Jaiswal, Ajay Naha and Rakesh Das.

The seized gold and cash were later handed over to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for further investigation and initiation of legal proceedings under relevant laws.

The operation underscores the continued vigilance and coordinated efforts of the Assam Rifles and the DRI in curbing illegal activities and ensuring security in the region.

While, an Assam Rifles statement said that the operation highlights the continued vigilance and coordinated efforts of Assam Rifles in collaboration with sister agencies to curb illegal activities and maintain security in the region.

Based on intelligence input, in another operation of trafficking of counterfeit goods, Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with the Customs Department, Silchar (Assam), recovered counterfeit cigarettes from a godown worth Rs 34 lakhs.

The consignment was being transported via Silchar for further supply to other states in India, the defence spokesman stated.

An official statement said that the Assam Rifles and Customs Department in Silchar have been at the forefront of operations against counterfeit goods in the region, conducting regular operations to disrupt and dismantle the counterfeit networks.

This seizure is a significant milestone in the effort to combat counterfeit goods trafficking, the spokesman said.