DRI nabs five near Vijayawada, recovers 3.1 kg foreign-origin gold and foreign currency

Five arrested after DRI intercepts vehicle near Vijayawada; 3.1 kg gold recovered

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested five persons in an operation that culminated on the outskirts of Vijayawada and at a toll plaza en route to Hyderabad, the agency said on Wednesday. Officers recovered three gold bars of foreign origin weighing approximately 3.1 kg and seized foreign currency concealed in a vehicle, according to the DRI. Acting on specific intelligence, teams from the DRI’s Hyderabad Zonal Unit and the Vijayawada Regional Unit intercepted a Scorpio on the outskirts of Vijayawada. Two occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody and questioned. During the inquiry, officers learnt the two had been involved in delivering smuggled gold, the agency said. Information obtained during the questioning pointed to three other suspects travelling by public bus towards Hyderabad. DRI teams intercepted these three at a toll plaza and recovered the gold bars, which were reportedly hidden in a pouch tied around the occupants’ waists. In addition, officers located foreign currency hidden inside a secret cavity in the Scorpio, the DRI said.

• Arrests: Five persons — two in the Scorpio and three intercepted at a toll plaza.
• Seizures: Three gold bars totaling about 3.1 kg; foreign currency recovered from a secret cavity in the vehicle.
• Legal action: All five accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody; investigation is ongoing to map links in the alleged smuggling network.

The DRI characterised the operation as part of its probe into a gang allegedly engaged in procuring and transporting smuggled gold into Hyderabad from Bangladesh via Kolkata. The agency said the two occupants of the Scorpio indicated that the seized foreign currency represented proceeds from the sale of smuggled gold.

According to the DRI, the two occupants said the foreign currency represented proceeds from the sale of smuggled gold.

Local implications and enforcement focus

The arrests and seizures draw attention to the role of transit corridors through Andhra Pradesh in cross-border gold movement. Vijayawada, positioned on major road and rail routes linking eastern and southern India, periodically appears in enforcement actions as authorities track consignments moved overland between ports and inland markets. For local law enforcement and customs authorities, the case highlights several enforcement priorities: intelligence-led interception, co-ordination between regional units and rapid response at highway checkpoints and toll plazas. The DRI’s involvement underscores the federal agency’s continuing focus on disrupting networks that route foreign-origin bullion into domestic channels.

What officials have done and what follows

The five accused were produced before court and remanded to judicial custody, the DRI reported. Further investigation aims to establish the extent of the alleged smuggling ring, identify racketeering or distribution nodes within the state, and trace financial proceeds.

Item	Details
Number of accused	5
Gold seized	3 bars, approx. 3.1 kg
Other seizures	Foreign currency concealed in vehicle cavity
Units involved	DRI Hyderabad Zonal Unit; DRI Vijayawada Regional Unit

While the DRI has outlined the immediate facts of the arrests and seizures, the ongoing probe will determine whether the operation uncovers wider distribution networks or links to money flows and local purchasers. Authorities are likely to examine movement patterns through Kolkata and coastal points, channels often exploited for gold smuggling given the high demand in domestic jewellery and investment markets. For Vijayawada residents, the arrest serves as a reminder of the city’s place on major transit axes and the constant vigilance by revenue and customs agencies to check the movement of contraband. The case may also prompt renewed scrutiny of transportation hubs and increased coordination between central and state enforcement agencies to stem illicit trade. (Report compiled from DRI statement and agency reporting.)