108 kg gold bar route: Smuggled from 7 nations to Tibet, then India
LEH: Expanding its probe into the seizure of 108 kilogrammes of gold bars from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along the India-China border, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) found that gold bars were smuggled from seven countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, and were brought to Tibet, from where they were meant to be smuggled into India.
A total of five suspects, including a couple who ran two cafes in upmarket Leh, have been arrested and taken to Ludhiana for interrogation by a joint team of the DRI, customs and Intelligence Bureau, officials told ET.
They said the couple, identified as Tender Tashi and Tashi Dolma, recruited Tenzin Samphel, a native of Hanley in eastern Ladakh, who in turn hired two couriers, Tenzin Targy and Tsering Chamba, from Hanley. The interrogation of the suspects revealed the name of the alleged kingpin, who is believed to be based in Delhi and is presently on the run, according to the people.
«The ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) suspected involvement of an international cartel and sought a probe by the DRI, customs and excise department. The questioning of those two arrested further revealed that they were given directions to collect the gold bars and carry them across the border,» said a senior government official, who did not wish to be identified.
Gold smuggling from the gulf countries and sea routes is common but the recent incident in eastern Ladakh suggests that smugglers might be exploring new routes along the
