Agra: Police in Uttar Pradesh detained two individuals, including a Nepali citizen, after recovering over 10 kilograms of 24-carat gold biscuits valued at more than Rs 15 crore following a road accident on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway on Saturday. The seizure has prompted a joint inquiry involving tax authorities and customs officials to dismantle a suspected cross-border contraband syndicate.
The incident occurred when a car carrying the suspects collided with a police patrol vehicle assigned to the Talgram police station. Upon inspecting the damaged vehicle, officers discovered 10 gold bars weighing a combined 10.026 kilograms concealed in a bag. When the occupants—identified as Sandeep Jaiswal of Maharajganj and Saroj Pant of Nepal—failed to produce valid ownership paperwork, invoices, or transit permits, authorities called in a State Bank of India evaluator to determine the metal’s purity and market worth, confirmed at Rs 15.39 crore.
Given the substantial haul and cross-border links, Goods and Services Tax officials and the Customs Department initiated interrogations into suspected transnational smuggling networks operating across northern transit corridors. The case has also stirred political debate, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleging discrepancies in the reported recovery quantities and criticizing state law enforcement over regional trafficking surveillance.
