Revenue intelligence officers intercept a Jnaneswari Express passenger carrying 16 smuggled gold bars routed from the Indo-Bangladesh border.

By DW Pulse | NAGPUR โ€” August 9, 2026 โ€” In a major enforcement operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Nagpur Zonal Unit intercepted a passenger at Nagpur Railway Station and recovered foreign-origin gold bars. The seized consignment, weighing over two kilograms, is valued at approximately Rs 3.9 crore on the domestic market.

Key Highlights

  • DRI Nagpur unit recovers 16 foreign-origin gold bars weighing over two kilograms at Nagpur Railway Station.
  • Smuggled gold was concealed inside brown adhesive tape and old newspapers aboard the Jnaneswari Express.
  • Suspect arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, as investigations expand into an Indo-Bangladesh smuggling syndicate.

Intelligence-Led Raid Intercepts Smuggling Route

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers established surveillance at Nagpur Junction Railway Station targeting Train Number 12102, the Jnaneswari Express.

The intelligence indicated that a passenger was carrying defaced foreign-origin gold smuggled through the Indo-Bangladesh border for delivery in Mumbai.

Upon the train’s arrival, enforcement teams intercepted the suspect and conducted a search, uncovering 16 gold bars.

Concealment Tactics and Seizure Procedures

DRI officials noted that the gold bars bore deliberate defacement markings to obscure manufacturer logos and origin stamps.

The contraband was wrapped tightly in brown adhesive tape and layered inside old newspapers to evade routine security checks.

All 16 gold bars were formally confiscated under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, following primary assay verification.

[Read Also: Customs and DRI Intensify Anti-Smuggling Operations Across Indian Railway Routes]

Investigation Expands to Uncover Distribution Network

During initial questioning, the arrested passenger admitted to receiving and transporting the concealed gold for an undisclosed recipient in Mumbai.

Investigating officers are currently probing the cross-border logistical trail to identify financial handlers and local receivers.

Senior officials confirmed that further raids are underway to disrupt the broader inter-state smuggling network operating along eastern rail corridors.