The directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI), Ludhiana zonal unit, on Friday busted an organised gold smuggling network operating across multiple states. The operation led to the seizure of foreign- origin gold worth approximately ₹80 lakh and the arrest of a carrier linked to an international smuggling syndicate.

According to officials, intelligence inputs indicated that gold smuggled from Thailand was being brought into India by air and subsequently transported to Punjab through a well-planned distribution chain. Acting on this information, teams from the DRI Chandigarh regional unit positioned themselves at Ambala junction to intercept an identified carrier travelling by train from Kolkata.

After alighting from the train at Ambala, the suspect boarded a bus heading towards Ludhiana. The bus was intercepted, following which the DRI officers identified, detained, and apprehended the carrier.