In a significant crackdown on illicit gold smuggling, the Assam police have arrested 11 individuals from the Sonitpur district on Saturday. The suspects, believed to be key players in a sizable fake gold smuggling racket, were apprehended in different areas within the district based on a tip-off received by the police.
The accused, identified as Baharul Ali, Liyakat Ali, Halibut Ali, Rafiqul Islam, Nizamuddin, Abdul Salem, Harmuz Ali, Abdul Matleb, Hanif Ali, Nur Amin, and another Rafiqul Islam, were reportedly arrested from Tezpur Borghat, Chariduar, and Bhalukjarani regions of the district. This information was provided on Sunday by Madhurima Das, the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Sonitpur.
The ASP elaborated, “We arrested Baharul Ali, Liyakat Ali, Halibut Ali, Rafiqul Islam, Nizamuddin, Abdul Salem, and Harmuz Ali, all from the Chariduar area. Additionally, Abdul Matleb and Hanif Ali were arrested from the Bhalukjarani area, while Nur Amin and Rafiqul Islam were nabbed from the Borghat area. These individuals are suspected to be involved in fake gold smuggling operations.”
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In the course of the arrests, the police successfully recovered several pieces of counterfeit gold from the possession of the accused. These recent apprehensions are part of a larger statewide effort to dismantle the unlawful gold smuggling network. In the last 24 hours alone, Assam police have arrested a total of 71 persons across the state on similar charges.
As the investigation into this substantial gold smuggling racket proceeds, the police are expected to make further breakthroughs. Meanwhile, the arrests made so far serve as a stern message to others involved in such illegal activities in the region.
