Gold bars weighing 8.325 kg valued at `Indian Rupees 22.1 million, allegedly smuggled into the country from Sri Lanka, were seized in Tamil Nadu, The New Indian Express said.

The raid was carried out by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials near Valavanthankottai toll gate on Thanjavur - Tiruchy Highway on Thursday.

Based on a tip-off that gold bars were being smuggled from Sri Lanka to India by boat through the coastal villages of Nagappattinam district, the Chennai Zonal Unit of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (CZU-DRI) gathered further intelligence information.

During early hours on Thursday, the DRI officers intercepted a car near Valavanthankottai toll gate and the two passengers in the car admitted to transporting smuggled gold. Later, the duo was brought to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise, Thanjavur. They were identified as Sugendharan of Thanjavur and Bagyaraj of Singampunari.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express)