Assam Police carried out the largest gold seizure in the force’s history after intercepting a consignment in Guwahati, recovering 37.064 kilograms of suspected smuggled gold valued at more than Rs 54 crore, officials said. The Special Operations Group conducted the operation in the Kharghuli area following specific intelligence inputs and detained one person in connection with the haul.
During the search, police also recovered 13 grams of silver, four mobile phones, Rs 3,755 in cash and several bags allegedly used to conceal the consignment. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Amitabh Basumatary described the recovery as “the largest gold seizure ever made by Assam Police,” saying the team acted on credible intelligence to intercept the shipment.
Authorities arrested 32-year-old Akshay Bansode, a resident of Sangli in Maharashtra who had been staying in Guwahati’s Gandhibasti area. A case has been registered at Latasil Police Station and the accused has been remanded to police custody for further investigation.
DCP Basumatary said Bansode failed to produce any valid documents to establish legal ownership or lawful transportation of the gold, and investigators are probing both the source and the intended destination of the consignment. Preliminary inquiries indicate the seizure may be linked to an international smuggling network operating across the India–Myanmar border, with possible connections extending to the Middle East.
Investigators have also uncovered leads suggesting the involvement of a larger organised syndicate with links in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru. “Our probe indicates that this is not an isolated case. We are examining the involvement of a larger network and tracing the financial transactions, supply chain and all individuals connected with the racket,” the DCP said.
Police say they are tracing previous consignments, mapping the smuggling route and identifying other members of the syndicate. Officials warned further arrests are likely as the investigation continues.
