Gang busted, Rs 6.9 crore smuggled gold seized.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted a gold smuggling racket and arrested four men including the kingpin from a hideout at in the city on Tuesday. They seized 20.6kg of gold worth 6.88 crore, 21 lakh in cash and a BMW car from them.

The kingpin, identified as Aulthan Syed Ibrahim, had engaged many carriers to smuggle gold into through smaller airports where customs checks are less. The others in custody are Ahamed Harris, 37, S Abdullah, 43 (both from Chennai) and Ahamed Akram, 28, a native of . DRI officials believe Ibrahim had engaged people also to smuggle gold from Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu by sea.

DRI sleuths have been keeping a watch on the suspects for two weeks. The arrested men were remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday. DRI sources said Ibrahim assigned people to smuggle gold especially from the Middle East. “Once smuggled in, the gold would be transported in imported, expensive cars which often escape routine police checks,” said an official.