Authorities Foil Rs 61 Lakh Gold Smuggling Attempt at Nagpur Airport

Customs and air intelligence authorities seized foreign gold worth over Rs 61 lakh hidden in trolley bags at Nagpur airport, arresting two passengers from Doha. The operation, led by Commissioner of Customs Avinash Thete, involved AIU and ACU personnel, who discovered the gold coated in silver-colored substances to avoid detection.

In a significant operation, customs and air intelligence authorities on Tuesday intercepted foreign gold worth over Rs 61 lakh concealed in two trolley bags at Nagpur International Airport. The seizure led to the arrest of two passengers who had arrived from Doha, officials confirmed.

An official statement revealed that, acting on specific intelligence, teams led by Nagpur Commissioner of Customs Avinash Thete thwarted a major gold smuggling attempt around 4:30 am. The operation saw the teamwork of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) and the Air Customs Unit (ACU).

The seized gold, weighing a total of 859.330 grams and valued at Rs 61,25,549, was found in the form of silver-colored thick wires hidden in trolley bags. The gold's unusual coating made it hard to detect during standard baggage screenings, officials said. Further investigations are ongoing.

(With inputs from agencies.)