Loading prices...

Register/Sign in
ScrapMonster
Sell Your Junk CarGet an instant quote for your car on ScrapMonster.com
Gold September 29, 2016 09:30:22 AM

Airport gold heist: DRI suspects involvement of international gold smuggling racket

Anil Mathews
ScrapMonster Author
The gold was found concealed in the rectum of passengers who reached the airport by Malindo Air flight from Kuala Lumpur.

Airport gold heist: DRI suspects involvement of international gold smuggling racket

MUMBAI (Scrap Monster): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials seized nearly 3.3 kilograms of gold worth around INR 92 lakhs from 14 passengers who arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in South India by the same flight. The Customs Intelligence officials who assisted the operation noted that detained passengers were just carriers. They also stated that involvement of international gold smuggling racket could not be ruled out. According to DRI, the airport has reported rise in number of gold smuggling cases during the recent months.

The gold was found concealed in the rectum of passengers who reached the airport by Malindo Air flight from Kuala Lumpur. Based on intelligence tip, DRI officials were posted in various parts of the airport. All suspect passengers were intercepted. Detailed passport checks and body examination were carried out. Shortlisted passengers were taken to nearby hospital. Upon scanning, it was found that 14 passengers had hidden gold bars in various shapes in their rectum.

All the passengers belonged to nearby state of Tamil Nadu. According to officials, the accused admitted that they were involved in similar gold smuggling acts through other airports. According to DRI officials, the passengers were believed to be just carriers. They suspect the involvement of major international gold smuggling racket based in Chennai. The airports in Kerala have become hubs of gold smuggling, they said. Since the beginning of the year, DRI and Customs officials have seized crores worth of smuggled gold from these airports.

Last week, the Customs Intelligence officers had intercepted an 83-year old man for attempting to smuggle gold bars worth Rs 19 lakh at the Mumbai International Airport.

Earlier in August, DRI officials had busted a major gold smuggling racket. During the raid at a suspected hideout in North Kolkata, the sleuths had seized 58.1 kilograms of gold worth nearly Rs 18.3 crores. A total of twelve persons including a woman were arrested during the operation which lasted for several hours. Nearly 350 gold biscuits were found hidden in their clothes and inside small instruments including compressors. It was revealed that the gold smuggling gang had procured gold from Myanmar which were later shipped to Southern Indian states. The twelve arrested are believed to be part of the same gang that carries smuggled gold from Kolkata to Southern Indian states.

With the advent of festive season, there has been a rise in gold smuggling, especially in South Indian states which account for bulk of the country’s gold demand. Reportedly, some jewellers buy smuggled gold to avoid taxation. Sources indicate that gold smuggling acts are likely to thrive as long as the import duty on gold remains high. According to them, the high import duty on bullion has opened doors of malpractices. Despite several requests by industry bodies, the Indian government has not yet reduced the high duty structure.

As per estimates, the DRI has seized smuggled gold worth around INR 91 crores in the current financial year until mid-September.

×

Quick Search

Advanced Search