Patiala police nabbed three persons, including a women, and seized three kg of gold from Shambhu border on Wednesday. The trio smuggled the gold from Hong Kong to India by concealing it in their luggage. The seized gold has a commercial value of Rs 80 lakh.
The accused have been identified as Balwinder Singh, a resident of Jallewala, Ferozepur, Balwinder's wife Randhir Kaur, Amarjit Singh, a resident of Amritsar. The trio had managed to conceal the gold from the customs department at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. They were traveling in a luxury bus service from the airport to Jalandhar.
The accused had purchased the gold from Macau and concealed it in their luggage by wrapping it in magnetic tape to dodge the electronic machines installed at the IGI Airport, said SSP Gurmeet Singh Chauhan.
He said the accused had planned to sell this gold in Amritsar. He added that the police had alerted the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department and the Income Tax Department, which would lead to further investigation in the case.
Meanwhile, the Excise and Taxation Department has imposed Rs 40 lakh fine on the accused for evading tax. If they fail to pay the amount, the Excise Department would confiscate the gold.
One nabbed with 6 kg opium
Meanwhile, the Excise and Taxation Department has imposed Rs 40 lakh fine on the accused for evading tax. If they fail to pay the amount, the Excise Department would confiscate the gold.
One nabbed with 6 kg opium
The Patiala police nabbed Santokh Singh, a Haryana resident, under charges of smuggling opium. Santokh, a Fatehabad resident, was carrying 6 kg of opium in his bag and was entering Punjab through village lanes, when the police arrested him. A woman, Krishan Devi, has also been arrested with 2 kg of ganja by the Lahori gate police, said the SSP.