India, April 30 -- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched a search for several key operatives, including the financier-cum-mastermind of an alleged international gold-trafficking syndicate. This syndicate purportedly specialises in processing yellow metal smuggled from African countries for subsequent sale in the city to local buyers, according to sources.

The DRI had recently begun a crackdown on the operations of the syndicate under its scanner, seizing 9.67 kg of smuggled gold in various forms, Indian currency notes worth Rs.1.92 crore, and 1.9 lakh US Dollars, the total seizure amounting to Rs.10.48 crore. The agency then nabbed four accused persons, including the syndicate's alleged operator of a melting unit that pr...