DRI Foils Multiple Gold Smuggling Attempts Involving Foreign Nationals

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) under the Indian Customs Department arrested a Sudan lady Saturday night for smuggling gold at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad. The officials seized 1.8 kilograms of smuggled gold worth nearly INR 58.2 lakhs.

According to sources, the lady passenger had arrived at the airport from Dubai via Emirates flight EK-524. The officials intercepted her while trying to exit through the green channel. Upon checking, the officials found 16 gold biscuits in her hand baggage, which were wrapped in aluminum foils and then covered with a black duct tape.

Upon further questioning, the passenger revealed that the gold was picked from her handlers in Dubai to be delivered to gang members in Hyderabad. Officials suspect that the passenger might have smuggled gold earlier also, as travel records indicate that she has travelled to from Dubai Hyderabad seven times during the past three months. However, the accused claimed that she has been flying frequently to visit her daughter who is currently studying in a City college.

In a separate incident, a Nepali national who disembarked from Air Arabia Sharjah-Jaipur flight was detained at the Jaipur International Airport for allegedly smuggling more than 0.5 kilograms of gold in the form of biscuits valued around INR 17 lakhs in the international market, hidden inside LED lights.

In another incident, a flyer from Dubai was arrested at Mumbai International Airport, while trying to smuggle 3.7 kilogram gold worth approximately INR 1 crore.