Two men, including a man from Kodiakkarai, were arrested by India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for transporting smuggled gold from Sri Lanka.

The men were caught while transferring possession of 3.5 kg of gold that was to be eventually handed over to a man from Dindigul, the police said.

One of the arrested men, Subramanian of Kodiakkarai, is the brother of Arivazhagan who was instrumental in the smuggling of 21.5 kg of gold that was seized mid-June, while in transit from Kodiakkarai. Arivazhagan has since been secured and remanded to judicial custody.

Speaking to The Hindu , a DRI official said the drop-off of 3.5 kg gold was made by boat on the night of August 13 at Kodiakkarai. Subramanian had arranged the logistics for the drop-off and was responsible for the pick-up.

He was to have the gold handed over to a Dindigul-based man at Pattukottai bus stand in Thanjavur. However, an agent was sent to collect the gold on behalf of the Dindigul man.

DRI sleuths intercepted the agent at the bus stand with the gold on Wednesday, while Subramanian escaped on a motorcycle. The DRI men eventually caught up with him at Muthupettai in Tiruvarur, where he was arrested.

The men have since been remanded.

According to the official, Subramanian was only a handler, who had arranged the logistics for the drop-off and pick-up.

However, the main person is yet to be located. - The Hindu