Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Friday arrested a man who is allegedly linked to a gold smuggling syndicate and used to buy gold smuggled from abroad. When the DRI team tried to nab him he tried to avoid the investigation by hiding in his bedroom and throwing off his mobile phone from the window to destroy the digital evidence but he was successfully apprehended. The arrested person has been identified as Dadar resident N.V. Thakkar.
According to the DRI sources, on April 11, this year, based on the specific information, DRI officers had intercepted one passenger B.C. Sheth, who had arrived at CSMIA, Mumbai, from Bangkok.
During the personal search of Sheth, 14 yellow-colored metal bars purported to be made of gold were found concealed inside the sole of one of his shoes. The recovered gold bars collectively weighing 6735.420 grams valued at Rs 6.30 crore.
"Seth admitted his role in smuggling of foreign origin gold and he informed that he was supposed to deliver the said smuggled gold to his accomplice C. Sanghvi, who was also apprehended by DRI on 12.04.2025. Sanghvi further informed that he used to sell the smuggled gold received from Sheth to Thakkar. Sanghvi also identified Thakkar as one of the primary members of the syndicate," said a DRI source.
"Further, a follow up search operation was conducted by DRI in the instant case, wherein Thakkar tried to avoid the investigation by hiding in his bedroom and throwing off his mobile phone from the window to destroy the digital evidence but he was successfully apprehended on Thursday. He admitted that he is an accomplice of Sanghvi, and he used to purchase smuggled gold from him. He has been engaged in the trading of smuggled gold of foreign origin for the past 3 years," the agency source added.
The DRI sources further said to hide his identity and avoid detection, Thakkar buys and uses SIM cards registered in the names of other persons for dealing/ buying & selling foreign-originated/ smuggled gold. He also frequently changes his phone numbers to avoid detection.
He used to talk/chat with Sanghvi using Dubai registered number for dealing in smuggled gold. He also confirmed that he has bought approximately 15-20 kgs of smuggled gold from Sanghvi since January 2025.
