DRI officials seized smuggled gold bars weighing around 20 kg from famous Hazira port near Surat on Friday and registered a case under Customa Act against those involved in the illegal import of the yellow metal.
Sources close to the development said that the seized gold valuing around Rs6 crore was hidden inside the container of spareparts of embroidery machines imported from China.
According to an official the gold bars seized were weighing 19 kg and 600 grams.
The officials have initiated probe against those who imported the container from neighboring country. They have started questioning the importers and others connected with the illegal imports. Generally cases of gold smuggling register in airports but this might be the first such case register at Hazira port in Gujarat.
'”Investigation has been initiated over who sent the gold and who was supposed to take delivery of yellow metal. Whether the gold was for local consumption or the importers wanted to send the bars to other cities in the country is only known after probe. Any time the official may arrest some people in connection with the case,'” said an official requesting anonymity.