Moradabad, June 1 -- A discreet signal at Dubai Airport - a mere scratch on the ear and a lifted hand - was all it took to green light a gold mule carrying over 200 grams of contraband inside his stomach. That innocuous gesture, however, has become the linchpin in unravelling one of India's most intricate gold smuggling networks, operated via poor, desperate youth from Rampur's Tanda town.
On May 23, Moradabad police arrested four individuals, blowing the lid off a transnational smuggling syndicate that has used over 150 young men as human carriers of gold. Investigators say the operation, which hinges on covert signals, rigged airport clearances, and extreme medical risks, has funnelled vast quantities of Dubai gold into India's black mar...