Gold Smuggling Racket Busted at Mumbai Airport

Authorities at Mumbai's international airport seized nearly two kilograms of gold smuggled by passengers and staff, valued at Rs 1.39 crore. Discreet monitoring by officers led to the arrests under India's Customs Act, revealing hidden contraband in clothing and body cavities in two separate incidents.

Authorities at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai have successfully intercepted a significant gold smuggling operation, seizing 1.915 kilograms of gold valued at Rs 1.39 crore in two separate cases. One suspect has been arrested, according to officials on Tuesday. The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers undertook a meticulous monitoring operation, targeting transit passengers and airport personnel engaged in the smuggling scheme.

During the course of the investigation, officers detained a contractual airport staff member who was caught receiving concealed gold from a transit passenger in the international departure area. The gold, consisting of 24KT dust, was ingeniously hidden within the individual's clothing, totaling a gross weight of 1,323 grams with a net of 1,260 grams. The contraband, valued at Rs 91.51 lakh, was discovered tucked into the suspect's socks and tied around their waist, leading to an arrest under the Customs Act of 1962.

In a separate operation, another passenger arriving from Dubai was found with smuggled 24KT gold dust molded in wax and hidden in their body cavity. This gold weighed 688 grams gross and 655 grams net, with a value of Rs 47.57 lakh. Airport authorities continue to investigate this smuggling network, with further details awaited.

(With inputs from agencies.)