Andhra Pradesh: Vijayawada Customs Seizes 13Kg Gold Worth Rs 6.7 Crore, Four Persons Arrested

This is the highest-ever seizure of smuggled gold and cash reported by Vijayawada customs since its formation in 2014.

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New Delhi: The Vijayawada Customs Commissionerate (Preventive) busted a gold smuggling racket and seized 13.189 kg of gold having market value of Rs 6.7 crore and Rs 4.24 crore unaccounted cash in a massive operation simultaneously conducted at multiple locations in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.   

During this customs operation, four persons smuggling the metal were arrested from various places under provisions of the Customs Act 1962.

This is the highest-ever seizure of smuggled gold and cash reported by Vijayawada customs since its formation in 2014.

Around 20 teams with nearly 100 customs officials intercepted carriers of the smuggled yellow metal that were being transported through buses, cars and trains at various places in Nellore, Eluru, Kakinada, Sulluripeta, and Chilakaluripeta. The officials also conducted search operations at various premises of people involved in this illegal network.

During their raids, the officials recovered nearly 5kg of gold from a single person coming from Chennai in an APSTRC bus at Sulluripeta Toll Plaza.

The metal seized included gold with foreign markings as well as those whose foreign marks were deliberately erased to try and camouflage its smuggled nature.

The arrested accused have been remanded in judicial custody and further investigation on the matter is underway, officials said.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, five persons were arrested for allegedly trying to sell fake tiger skin and nails to a businessman, Penamulur police said.

According to reports, the incident took place in Kanuru village near Vijayawada on Tuesday night, when the prime accused, identified as Kanuri Lakshmi Narayana, was caught red-handed while he was trying to strike a deal with four others to sell the animal’s skin and teeth.

The skin was sent to the forest department for examination and they confirmed that the seized animal parts were actually of a stray dog. The accused had tried to sell it for Rs 5 lakh, as per reports. A case has been registered, police said.

(With inputs from Ashish Kumar Pandey)