Latest Smuggling News | Top Smuggling News Headlines Today | Today India news | Breaking Smuggling News Today | English Smuggling News Headlines - TheDailyGuardian

This Actress Earned ₹12 Lakh In Each Dubai Trip By Smuggling Gold

March 6, 2025, 8:42 am

A startling case of alleged gold smuggling has rocked the film industry in Karnataka. Ranya Rao, a popular Kannada actress, was arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on Wednesday after authorities intercepted her carrying gold bars worth approximately ₹12.56 crore, weighing nearly 15 kilograms.

Incident Details

Rao, reportedly the stepdaughter of senior Karnataka IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, is accused of smuggling gold from Dubai. According to sources, she traveled to Dubai around 30 times in the past year, allegedly bringing back kilograms of gold on each trip. Intelligence reports, as cited by India Today, claim that she was paid roughly ₹1 lakh per kilogram, earning around ₹12-13 lakh per trip. Investigations further revealed that Rao repeatedly used modified jackets and waist belts to hide the gold, a method she employed during her frequent travels.

Arrest and Recovery

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had Rao under surveillance due to her unusually frequent trips to Dubai. On her return last Wednesday, just as she was about to clear airport security, DRI officials intercepted her. During the frisking, authorities recovered the concealed gold bars from her modified jacket. The total assets seized in the case have now been valued at around ₹17.29 crore, including additional items worth ₹4.73 crore.

Family Reaction

The arrest has sent shockwaves through Rao’s family. Her stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, a senior IPS officer, expressed his disbelief and devastation upon learning of the incident through media reports. “I was shocked and devastated when I heard about this. She is not living with us, and there must be family issues that led to this situation. Nevertheless, the law will take its course, and my career remains untarnished,” he said.

Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the smuggling operation. With Rao’s extensive travel history and the sophisticated methods used to conceal the gold, investigators are looking into potential accomplices and other facets of the scheme. The case continues to evolve, with new details emerging as the investigation proceeds.

‘Assam Smuggling Shocker’: 19 Dogs Packed In Sacks, Locked In Room For Sale

November 5, 2024, 7:30 pm

In a recent anti-smuggling operation, Assam police rescued 19 dogs intended for illegal sale in the Mangaldoi area, Darrang district. Acting on a tip-off, authorities initiated a raid, successfully tracing and freeing the dogs, who had been tightly packed in sacks and locked in a room. The rescue, which saved both stray and pet dogs, led to the arrest of four individuals identified as Milic Marak, Ina Changma, Star Marak, and Malu Changma, all Assam natives.

HAVE A LOOK AT THE VIRAL POST:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WE animals Tezpur (@we.animals.tezpur)

Intended for Trafficking to Nagaland

Local sources report that the traffickers aimed to transport the dogs from Assam to Nagaland for the illicit meat trade. Despite a cultural history of dog meat consumption in Nagaland, a ban was briefly imposed on the dog meat trade in 2020, later overturned by a 2023 Gauhati High Court ruling.

Consequently, while dog meat is reportedly consumed in Nagaland, the practice remains unendorsed in other Indian states. Social media pages dedicated to animal welfare in Assam shared the incident, emphasizing the alarming rise of dog smuggling cases in the region.

Pakistan International Airlines Crew Member Caught Smuggling Saudi Currency

July 29, 2024, 4:11 pm

A female flight attendant from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been placed on judicial remand after being apprehended for smuggling foreign currency at an international airport in Punjab province. The customs officials detained the suspect on Friday after discovering a substantial amount of Saudi riyals concealed in her socks during a body search.

The suspect was presented before a magistrate on Saturday, with customs officials seeking her custody. According to Dawn News, an FIR was filed against her based on a complaint from customs officials. The flight attendant was stopped while boarding Pakistan International Airlines PIA flight PK 203 from Lahore to Dubai.

A video showing the cabin crew member removing the currency notes has gone viral on social media. Raja Bilal Naseem, the customs deputy collector at Allama Iqbal International Airport, reported that 140,000 Saudi Riyals (approximately 10.4 million rupees) were recovered from her possession. He mentioned that customs authorities had received intelligence reports about a potential attempt to smuggle currency on this flight.

The suspect has been charged under Section 139 of The Customs Act, 1969. This section stipulates that any passenger or crew member attempting to smuggle currency, gold, precious metals, or stones by concealing them in baggage to avoid customs will face smuggling charges. A PIA spokesman stated that the flight attendant would be terminated immediately if convicted.

Two held for smuggling Leopard skin by STF

April 6, 2024, 12:27 pm

Special Task Force (STF) apprehended two individuals from Odisha’s Kalahandi district for smuggling leopard skin.

The accused were identified as Chakra Benal (45) hailing from Village Talbora and Purna Chandra (39) hailing from Village Patang Pada of the district.

STF conducted a raid near Narla Railway Station in Kalahandi district based on reliable sources on the suspicion or possession or dealing of wildlife criminals.

“During the search one leopard skin along with other incriminating materials were recovered from their possession.” Inspector General (IG) of Odisha STF, JN Pankaj said.

According to the official the accused could not provide any authority in support of the possession of the leopard skin.

Both the individuals were arrested and a case was lodged against them.

“We have registered a case in this connection under sections 379/411/120(B) IPC r/w Section 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972,” said the official.

The aforementioned skin would be sent to Director WII, Dehradun, Uttarakhand for a biological examination, according to the IG of Odisha STF added.

The matter is being currently investigated

Cattle smuggling case: Delhi court extends judicial custody of TMC’s Anubrata Mondal till 4 May

May 1, 2023, 1:14 pm

The Delhi Court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal till 4 May in connection with the cattle smuggling case.

Meanwhile, the arguments on his application seeking his transfer from Delhi to Asansol Correctional Home (West Bengal) are underway. In March, the TMC’s Birbhum district president moved an application in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court seeking his transfer to Asansol Correctional Home (West Bengal).

Earlier, on Monday, the TMC leader was produced in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court at the expiry of his judicial custody.On April 27, the Rouse Avenue Court granted three days’ custody of Sukanya Mondal, Anubrata’s daughter, to Enforcement Directorate (ED) to interrogate her in the cattle smuggling case.She was arrested on the previous day by the ED.

Special judge Raghubeer Singh granted three days’ custody after hearing the submission of the special public prosecutor (SPP) Nitesh Rana and defence counsels.
The court, however, allowed the counsels to meet the accused during ED custody. It also directed the ED to get the accused medically examined in every 48 hours.
ED sought three days’ remand to trace the proceeds of the crime, trace the money trail and identify the modus operandi.

She was also to be sat along her father and TMC strongman Anubarata and questioned in connection with the case.The SPP submitted that Sukanya Mondal was arrested on April 26 evening.A close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Anubrata was arrested by the CBI in connection with the cattle smuggling case in July last year.

Gold worth over Rs 65 lakh seized at Hyderabad airport

March 28, 2023, 6:17 pm

As per recent reports, the Customs department seized smuggled gold weighing over 4 kg at Hyderabad airport in two separate incidents. In one of the incidents, gold worth Rs 65 lakh was seized from two passengers who had come from Dubai at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday, said an official. During search three capsules of gold in paste form weighing 840 gm (approximately Rs 51.24 lakh value) was found concealed in rectum, a release from Customs said. The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) sleuths of the customs department were able to gather some information about the gold smuggling, leading to the successful seizure of the smuggled gold.

Another passenger, who came in another flight from Dubai was intercepted by Customs officers and on searching his baggage two gold bars weighing 233 grammes (approximate value Rs 14.23 lakh) was found concealed between Tuna Fish oil tins kept in the check-in bags, said the press release.

The Customs department is continuously working to combat such illegal activities and prevent the smuggling of contraband goods into the country.

Police confiscate 3000 bottles of cough syrup in Assam

March 9, 2023, 3:12 pm

Police seized about 3000 bottles of cough syrup in the Karimganj district of Assam on Thursday. As per reports, the truck driver has been arrested by police in Churaibari, Karimganj district.

Niranjan Das, who’s in-charge of Churaibai police watch post, said the police team nabbed the driver as well as the co-driver of the truck, which bore the registration number MH-40BL-7948. “During a routine check, we intercepted the truck and recovered 15 cartoons of Phensedyl cough syrup from the truck. We have apprehended the driver and co-driver of the truck,” Das said.

He further added that the price of the seized cough syrup bottles is estimated at around Rs 15 lakh.

Reportedly, the truck was on its way to Agartala, in Tripura, when it was seized. According to the information, a case has been registered under the NDPS Act in this regard.

Kerala’s governor charges CM’s office with patronising smuggling

November 3, 2022, 5:40 pm

Arif Mohammad Khan, the governor, and the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala have been at odds for some time. On Thursday, Khan accused the office of Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister, of patronising smuggling.

His secretary was removed. Now books are also being written about it. People sitting in the CM [chief minister]’s office dictate VCs [vice chancellors] to appoint their relatives who are under-qualified or unqualified,” Khan said in New Delhi.

“If the CM’s office is involved in smuggling, I will interfere. If they make illegal appointments in universities, I will interfere. I do not know why the CM office is getting involved in such illegal activities.”

Khan said he never appointed anyone to universities. He added he was only pointing out “illegal appointments” there. Khan said he was ready to quit if Vijayan could prove his allegation that the governor made some appointments to please the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

He asked journalists to read the book of Swapna Suresh, an accused in the 2020 gold smuggling case, about these activities and her nexus with people in power.

The issue first came to light in July 2020 when customs officials discovered 30 kg of gold concealed in bathroom fixtures disguised as official luggage bound for the UAE embassy in Thiruvananthapuram. M Sivasankar, Vijayan’s principal secretary, was detained for allegedly having connections to some of the accused. The situation is being looked into by five national agencies. Due to threats and intimidation, the Enforcement Directorate has petitioned the Supreme Court to have the case relocated from Kerala.

Khan said Vijayan and the Left Front were accusing him of making appointments at RSS’s behest. “Will he [Vijayan] be able to resign if he is not able to approve his charges?” He asked Vijayan to prove his allegations.

He rejected the allegation that he was an RSS nominee. “If I point out serious lapses in varsities how can I become RSS overnight.”

“He is trying to undermine the progress in the higher education sector and trying to implement saffron [RSS] agenda. He wants to form a parallel government but we will oppose it strongly,” CM said.

The opposition Congress questioned Khan’s up to this point silence over the subject of gold smuggling.

“He could have acted two years ago when the smuggling case surfaced. Now he is saying the CM’s office patronised everything. He should act rather than make tit-for-tat statements,” said state Congress chief K Sudhakaran MP.

Khan’s refusal to approve 11 ordinances brought forward by the state administration in August strained their already tense relationship. To enact these laws, the administration was compelled to call a special assembly session.

Khan later approved nine of the measures the legislature passed. He refused to sign two documents that would have restricted the Lokayukta’s and the chancellor of universities’ authority. Later on, Khan and Vijayan held separate press conferences to criticise each other.

Khan last month said if ministers continue to lower the dignity of his office “he will withdraw his pleasure.” But Khan clarified it was not a threat to sack any minister. Vijayan hit back and asked Khan not to become “a subject of self-ridicule.”

CBI raids three houses of West Bengal Minister Moloy Ghatak

September 7, 2022, 11:31 am

In connection with the coal smuggling case, a team of CBI officials raided the three homes of West Bengal law minister Moloy Ghatak in Asansol on Wednesday. Raids are being carried out in seven different locations across the state, including Asansol and Kolkata. Moloy Ghatak had previously been questioned by the ED in connection with the case. The raid today comes at a time while many Trinamool leaders, including the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, are under investigation by federal authorities. While sacked minister Partha Chatterjee is in jail for the SSC scam, the CBI has arrested Anubrata Mondal in the cattle smuggling case.

Moloy Ghatak tweeted on Tuesday against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying the country’s state of affairs is “horrible under Mr Amit Shah’s watch.”

The coal scam is the same case in which Abhishek Banerjee has been questioned several times by the ED.

The CBI registered the coal smuggling case in November 2020. The allegedly illegally mined coal, worth thousands of crores of rupees, is said to have been sold by a racket operating in western West Bengal, where the Eastern Coalfields Limited operates several mines. Political leaders are said to have benefited from the coal trade.

Last year in August, the ED filed its first charge sheet in the coal smuggling case charging Vinay Mishra’s brother, Vikas, and former officer-in-charge of Bankura police station, Ashok Mishra. However, Abhishek Banerjee was not mentioned in the charge sheet. The ED recently called up eight Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from West Bengal to Delhi for questioning.

4 arrested in connection with leopard skin smuggling

September 6, 2022, 12:35 pm

In connection with leopard skin smuggling, four people have been apprehended by the Forest Department West from Nashik.

The leopard skin has been recovered from the arrested people and the possibility of any international links is being investigated.

“Forest Dept West apprehended leopard skin smugglers from lgatpuri Aboli village in Nashik. Four accused have been caught with leopard skin. We are doing the interrogation and will try to investigate if they have any international links,” Garg said.

Earlier on 31 August, police officials recovered body parts of wild animals including two leopard skins in Assam’s Nagoan district.

Moreover, the Nagaon Forest Division launched an operation in Dobaka, Namati, and Kampur areas and there they recovered the skin. The operation was launched on the information of the Forest Department.

However, forest officials have arrested four people in the case.

Heroin worth Rs 70 crores caught from Pakistan border, supply done through drones

July 15, 2022, 4:55 pm

Heroin smuggling is increasing continuously in the area bordering Rajasthan, and this heroin is coming from Pakistan. According to the information, from April 14 to June 27, heroin worth Rs 70 crores was caught from the Pakistani border adjoining the Sriganganagar area.

Moreover, the methods of supplying drugs have also changed, where earlier drug smuggling was done by using pipes and other processes, whereas now smuggling is done with the help of drones.

According to BSF sources, the drone can carry a weight of about 4 kg. They can be operated from a distance of about 4 km, and silent drones are used for smuggling drugs.

To deal with this matter, BSF is considering anti-drone technology. For this, talks have also been held with some companies so that the entry of drones can be stopped.

It is being said that the smugglers have made links with the area’s farmers adjacent to the border to smuggle drugs. Farmers are given an amount of about one lakh on the back of every packet. In greed for this, they keep the packet of intoxicants in his field. SP Anand Sharma said that farmers are committing crimes by getting greedy for money. They are being given one lakh rupees per packet.

However, on April 14, heroin worth Rs 20 crores were caught from Anupgarh’s village Bijnore, whose weight is about 4 kg. Apart from this, 5 kg heroin was seized from a village in Srikaranpur on 1st June, which is said to be worth Rs 25 crores. Apart from this, in the Gajsinghpur sector of Shrikaranpur, about 3 kg of intoxicant was also caught on 7th June, which is worth about Rs 17 crores. On June 27, about 3.5 kilograms of heroin was also seized from two FC Mukan villages in the district.