TIRUPATI: Special enforcement bureau sleuths seized Rs 5 crore worth gold and silver articles being transported in a private travels bus without any valid documents or papers in the early hours at the Panchalingala checkpost in Kurnool district on Sunday.
Following the directions of SEB director Avula Ramesh Reddy, the Special enforcement bureau sleuths have intensified vehicular checks especially at the Andhra Pradesh- Telangana border at Kurnool district and during the vehicular checks held in the early hours on Sunday, they stumbled upon this booty being smuggled away without any GST bills and transport vouchers etc.
The property seized by the SEB sleuths included 8.25 kgs gold biscuits, 28.5 kgs gold, Rs.90 lakh cash.
Five persons identified as Devaraj, Selvaraj, Kumaravel, Murugesan and Venkatesh who were carrying these gold, silver and cash worth Rs 5 crore from Hyderabad to Coimbatore were arrested by the SEB sleuths after they failed to produce any valid documents.
SEB sleuths told reporters that the accused had concealed the gold biscuits in vests and briefs and placed them beneath their seats in the private bus as a diversionary tactic.
SEB sleuths handed over the accused along with the seized property to the Kurnool Taluk police who registered a case and are further investigating.
