Uttar Pradesh's Rampur gang is actively participating in a gold smuggling racket, and bringing in gold from Saudi Arabia by posing as Haj pilgrims, investigators have found.

"Village Tanda in UP is now known for producing gold carriers for the syndication. These carriers are sent to Jeddah as a Haj Pilgrim and while returning they bring back smuggled gold on the direction of organised gang," a custom official told India Today.

On May 7, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs got a tip from an informer that a group of 23 people arriving from Jeddah were bringing smuggled gold with them. That night, custom officials arrested 21 passengers for smuggling almost 6 kg gold worth Rs 1.70 crore. They had concealed 112 pieces of gold bars inside the caps of the water bottles.

Then, on Wednesday night, the AIU of Delhi Customs arrested three more Rampur gang members, all belonging to Tanda village, with smuggled pieces of gold at Delhi airport.

A probe has revealed that this "Rampur Gang" is quite active in gold smuggling racket in India. Sources told India Today that all the accused were "Haj Pilgrims," from Tanda village in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district.

This was one of the rarest gold smuggling cases for Indian investigative officers. In earlier cases AIU has arrested one or two persons from Tanda village, but never in such big numbers.

Based on statements by the accused, investigators have found all 21 accused were recruited by one single man, who is an old hand in gold smuggling. The accused is into supply of carriers for gold smugglers, and charges a commission of Rs 10,000-15,000 per person, per assignment.

"We cannot disclose the name of the mastermind behind Rampur Gang, as the case is still under investigation. But this person was taking orders of smuggling consignment from a few Delhi-based handlers, especially those who are at the front end of pyramid, dealing with jewellers and bullion traders," an official said.

Sources confirmed that after landing at Mumbai International Airport, all the accused "Haj Pilgrims" were scheduled to board a connecting flight to Delhi. "The entire smuggled gold was to be given to few Delhi based gold handlers," the official said.

For further investigation and subsequent arrest of these handlers, all 21 accused have been summoned by Mumbai Customs next week. "We have informed the custom officials in Uttar Pradesh to make a visit to Tanda village, examine the situation and take required action," the official said.