Ludhiana, Dec. 14 -- The directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI), Ludhiana zonal unit, on Friday busted an organised gold smuggling network operating across multiple states. The operation led to the seizure of 601 gm foreign-origin 24-carat gold worth approximately Rs.80 lakh and the arrest of a carrier. According to officials, intelligence inputs indicated that gold smuggled from Thailand was being brought into India by air and subsequently transported to Punjab. Acting on this information, teams from the DRI Chandigarh regional unit positioned themselves at Ambala junction to intercept an identified carrier travelling by train from Kolkata. After alighting from the train at Ambala, the suspect boarded a bus heading towards Ludhiana. The bus was intercepted, following which officers from DRI Ludhiana identified, detained and apprehended the carrier. During preliminary questioning, the accused revealed that he had travelled from Kolkata to Delhi and then onwards to Ambala while carrying foreign-origin gold. He further disclosed that the gold had been smuggled into India from Thailand by flight and was meant to be delivered in Punjab. The accused was subsequently arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.HTC...