GUWAHATI, Jan 21 - With back-to-back incidents of seizures of gold being reported in the last few weeks, the Assam Police, too, has drawn a map to check smuggling activities through various modes of transport, particularly through railways.
There has been a spurt in gold smuggling activities for the last couple of years through the State, with incidents of rectum carriers also coming to the fore.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, too, had seized gold bars worth several lakhs of rupees from Guwahati recently, indicating involvement of officials of private airlines.
While the Customs department has managed to crack the whip on such smugglers, the Assam Police has now directed the Government Railway Police (GRP) to tighten the noose around such operators.
The Railway Protection Force has also been asked to intensify its operation against the smuggling syndicates.
As per a record of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the GRP has seized gold worth nearly Rs 25 crore in the last 20 months or so during its routine checking and based on specific tip-off.
�Sourced at Myanmar, gold bars are sold at various locations across the country. However, despite many arrests having been made, there has been not let-up in such incidents. In many cases it is seen that people with no criminal background are lured into it,� a senior Assam Police official said.
�It is a well-oiled network that is calling the shots. Those working in the ground hardly get to know the kingpin. Neighbouring states like Manipur and Nagaland are important transit points and it is from there that the consignment gets dispatched,� sources stated.
�Now that the Customs department had caught a number of such operators, the smugglers may opt more for the train route, which is why it is important to have a dedicated strength to keep a tab on such operators,� sources said.
�Further, there is also a need to improve the coordination among the neighbouring states, without which a permanent solution would always remain a far cry,� the sources pointed out.
GUWAHATI, Jan 21 - With back-to-back incidents of seizures of gold being reported in the last few weeks, the Assam Police, too, has drawn a map to check smuggling activities through various modes of transport, particularly through railways.
There has been a spurt in gold smuggling activities for the last couple of years through the State, with incidents of rectum carriers also coming to the fore.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, too, had seized gold bars worth several lakhs of rupees from Guwahati recently, indicating involvement of officials of private airlines.
While the Customs department has managed to crack the whip on such smugglers, the Assam Police has now directed the Government Railway Police (GRP) to tighten the noose around such operators.
The Railway Protection Force has also been asked to intensify its operation against the smuggling syndicates.
As per a record of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the GRP has seized gold worth nearly Rs 25 crore in the last 20 months or so during its routine checking and based on specific tip-off.
�Sourced at Myanmar, gold bars are sold at various locations across the country. However, despite many arrests having been made, there has been not let-up in such incidents. In many cases it is seen that people with no criminal background are lured into it,� a senior Assam Police official said.
�It is a well-oiled network that is calling the shots. Those working in the ground hardly get to know the kingpin. Neighbouring states like Manipur and Nagaland are important transit points and it is from there that the consignment gets dispatched,� sources stated.
�Now that the Customs department had caught a number of such operators, the smugglers may opt more for the train route, which is why it is important to have a dedicated strength to keep a tab on such operators,� sources said.
�Further, there is also a need to improve the coordination among the neighbouring states, without which a permanent solution would always remain a far cry,� the sources pointed out.
