Ranya Rao’s Gold Smuggling Operation: How It Unfolded

Ranya Rao revealed details regarding her arrest for smuggling gold valued at ₹12.56 crore. She received a call to collect the contraband at Dubai Airport, concealed it on her body, and faced apprehension upon arrival in Bengaluru, aided by a smuggling accomplice.

Actor Ranya Rao was arrested for smuggling 14.2 kg of gold valued at ₹12.56 crore. During interrogation by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), she disclosed that she received an internet call instructing her to collect the gold from Gate A at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport. Rao confirmed that this was her first experience smuggling gold.

Rao mentioned that she had been receiving calls from foreign numbers two weeks prior to her journey. At the airport’s dining lounge, an unknown individual wearing a white gown handed her two packets containing the gold, which were wrapped in thick tarpaulin-like material. As per NDTV’s report, DRI investigators noted that the man who delivered the gold was described as a six-foot-tall individual with a wheatish complexion and an American accent.

After receiving the gold, Rao concealed 12 gold bars by taping them to her body with adhesive tape she had cut into pieces prior to her arrival at the airport. She also stashed additional gold pieces in her shoes and pockets. Reports indicated that she had watched YouTube videos to strategize her smuggling methods.

Upon her arrival at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3, DRI informed a Karnataka court that she received assistance from an officer involved in the smuggling operation. She was ultimately apprehended following a tip-off regarding her gold smuggling activities. Over the prior six months, Ranya Rao had made 27 trips to Dubai, with four trips occurring within a 15-day period, which she claimed were for business and photography purposes.

Ranya Rao’s case highlights the methods individuals may employ to smuggle contraband, including internet coordination and physical concealment. Her repeated trips to Dubai and the assistance from an accomplice suggest a larger network involved in smuggling activities. This incident underscores the challenges authorities face in combating smuggling operations at international airports.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com