The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence ( DRI ) officers, acting on intelligence, intercepted seven shipments of “Electric Current/Potential Metres” declared as “Current Guiaor Machine” arriving from Hong Kong at the Foreign Post Office ( FPO ) in New Delhi.
Upon closer inspection, these seemingly innocuous electric metres were found to be fully functional, equipped with genuine populated circuit boards. However, a preliminary examination raised suspicions due to their unusually heavy weight.
The outer covers of all 56 electric metres were intentionally painted black, concealing a hidden secret. Scratching off the black paint revealed a white-coloured metal resembling steel, but subsequent analysis by a spectrometer unveiled a startling truth – these covers were crafted from an alloy of gold and silver, with an approximate ratio of 30:70.
The DRI seized a total of 56 electric metres from these eight consignments, containing a staggering 16.67 kg of gold and 39.73 kg of silver. The estimated market value of this alloy treasure amounts to a whopping Rs. 10.66 crore.
Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of a well-organised syndicate in this intricate gold smuggling operation. The syndicate employed the clever tactic of alloying gold with silver, altering its colour from yellow to white. This white-coloured alloy was then cleverly used in manufacturing the covers of electric metres, which were further disguised by being painted black to avert suspicion. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are delving deeper into the intricate workings of this syndicate, aiming to dismantle the entire network behind this sophisticated gold smuggling endeavour.
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