Berhampur, Oct 27: A large scale foreign origin gold smuggling racket is active in Berhampur city of Odisha. The racket is reportedly active from the Bangladesh border through many states such as Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
The smugglers are bringing gold from Srlanka through Tamil Nadu and from Bangladesh though Kolkata avoiding GST.
Last year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation revealed that the modus operandi of the smugglers involved in the racket is that the foreign origin gold is being smuggled into the country after it is received in Myanmar from where it is transported to Bangladesh and then to Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
As Berhampur is famous for quality gold ornaments, customers from neighbouring districts throng the city in festive seasons and marriage ceremonies to buy gold ornaments.
The smugglers take this opportunity and local gold traders buy gold biscuits from them to avoid GST. The customers also get special discount on purchases.
In August last year, Berhampur police and Excise officials busted a gold smuggling racket with the seizure of over 2 kg of gold biscuits and Rs 1.22 crore cash. Two persons, identified as Dasarath Sahukar (35) of Sangli in Maharashtra and Anand Subudhi (60) of Berhampur were also arrested in this connection.
During interrogation, Sahukar revealed that he got the money from Subudhi, owner of Anand Jewellery at Berhampur, in exchange of gold. Subsequently, the jeweller was nabbed. Subudhi admitted that he had purchased 23 pieces of gold biscuits weighing around 2.2 kg from Sahukar and paid a cash of around Rs 1.22 crore.
