The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested three individuals for smuggling 3.57 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at Rs 2.51 crore, intercepted at the Panthangi Toll Plaza in Choutuppal, Telangana. The suspects were traveling from Chennai to Bidar, Karnataka, and had concealed the gold in a specially made cavity beneath the car's handbrake. Upon questioning, they revealed the method of hiding the gold, which included three packages wrapped in brown tape containing five 24-carat gold bars with 99.5% purity. The gold and the vehicle were seized, and the suspects have been remanded to judicial custody under the Customs Act, 1962, while further investigations are ongoing. This operation highlights ongoing efforts to combat gold smuggling in India, particularly as customs duty changes may impact the gold market.