The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 19 kg gold from Nhava Sheva port in Uran in Raigad district and arrested a Vashi-based importer.

As many as 163 gold bars worth ₹5.5 crore were seized from five containers on Wednesday and Thursday. The gold biscuits were being carried under the cover of heavy melting scrap, kept inside heavy iron pipes screwed shut on both ends. Some biscuits were wrapped in black insulation tape, while some were unwrapped.

The DRI had received information about the gold being smuggled from Dubai to M/s Hind Terminal CFS, Nhava Sheva, on Wednesday. It seized one container with 7 kg gold the same day, and four more with the remaining 12 kg gold on Thursday.

The DRI has arrested Ghatkopar resident Rajesh Bhanushali, who had imported the consignment in the name of M/s Shourya Exim in Vashi by declaring it to be heavy melting scrap. According to DRI officers, a few more people involved in the racket are yet to be apprehended.

Mr. Bhanushali is suspected to have been running the racket for the last two years. The gold bars were all of 24 KT 999 purity, each weighing 10 tolas.

This is the second such seizure by the DRI in a week. On March 29, it had seized 110 kg gold from Dongri.