GoPrank Agencies have exposed a gang -sponsored gold smuggling gang operated through the eastern borders of Ladakh. The conspiracy has been exposed by the Enforcement Directorate, which was investigating a large -scale gold smuggling bust in 2024, in which more than one thousand kilograms were recovered.
The Enforcement Directorate has said that the investigation of a large amount of gold seized near the Line of Actual Control in East Ladakh last year has revealed the gang of gold smuggling across a large range, which is responsible for sending more than one thousand kilograms of gold in India during 2023 and 2024.
Sugar smuggler caught with 108 gold rods
The case came to light when a patrol of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police stopped two people on July 9, 2024 in the head of Changthang sub-area of East Ladakh. Both have been identified as Tsering Chamba and Stanzin Dorgyal, and were caught with 108 gold rods, each of which weighs one kilogram.
The porters used to arrange to carry the goods
According to the ED, the mastermind of this smuggling racket was a man named Tendu Tashi in India, who worked closely with a Chinese citizen named Bhum-Chum-Chaum. The agency said that Chinese contact took gold from Tibet to India through porters. One of them served as Tenzin Khandap, nominated receiver and transporter, while his uncle, Tenzin Samphal, arranged porters to carry goods.
Investigators found that between 2023 and 2024, the gang managed to smuggle 1,064 kg of foreign gold worth about Rs 800 crore in the country.
After being brought from Ladakh to Delhi, this goods were handed over to jewelers and dealers for sale. The payment to the Chinese supplier was reportedly made through cryptocurrency transactions, especially using USDT (Tether).
Further investigation is going on
The ED said that it raided five places in the National Capital Region including Delhi and one place in Ladakh as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation. Officials said that the smuggling network had maintained a sophisticated system for logistics, disposal and payment to avoid being caught. The agency further said that further investigation is on to find out the income of the crime and identify all the people associated with the syndicate.