Guwahati, May 28: Police arrested an alleged fake gold smuggler during a late-night operation at Bhetamukh in Kamrup district on May 27 and seized nearly six kilograms of suspected counterfeit gold from his possession.
The accused, identified as Mostakin alias Rafikul Islam, a resident of Goreswar, was apprehended while allegedly transporting the consignment from Nayanpur in North Guwahati.
According to police, the seized fake gold weighed approximately 5.970 kilograms. Officers also recovered Rs 84,000 in cash and a mobile phone during the operation.
Investigators said the seizure comes months after another major fake gold racket was busted in Assam. On December 28 last year, Rangia Police arrested three persons and seized more than 1.4 kilograms of counterfeit gold biscuits during a vehicle checking operation in Kamrup district.
In that case, police had intercepted a vehicle travelling towards Tamulpur district following a tip-off and recovered fake gold biscuits packed in 90 pieces of 10 grams each and 100 pieces of 5 grams each. The arrested individuals included two persons from Bokajan in Assam and one from Rajasthan. Police had also seized the vehicle used for transportation along with three mobile phones.
Officials said investigators are now examining possible links between the two cases and attempting to trace the larger network involved in the fake gold trade operating in Assam.
