Mumbai Airport Customs Seizes 1.7kg of Smuggled Gold Worth ₹1.25 Crores Hidden in Body Cavities and Undergarments
Mumbai Airport Customs Seizes 1.7kg of Smuggled Gold Worth ₹1.25 Crores Hidden in Body Cavities and Undergarments
In a significant operation, Mumbai Airport Customs officials seized 1.725 kilograms of smuggled gold valued at ₹1.25 crores during the night of October 15-16, 2024. The gold was discovered hidden in the body cavities of two passengers and was also recovered from airport staff. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
Acting on specific intelligence, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) discreetly monitored a transit passenger arriving from Dubai and preparing to depart for Bangkok. The passenger, alongside an airport staff member, was observed entering a washroom, prompting suspicion.
Upon intercepting the staff member, customs officials uncovered three pieces of gold dust in wax form, weighing 1.270 kilograms and provisionally valued at ₹92.13 lakh, concealed within his undergarments. “This immediate action led to a crucial breakthrough,” said a Customs official.
Further interrogation revealed that the gold had been handed over to the staff member by another passenger. Utilizing this information, AIU officers conducted a thorough search and successfully apprehended the second passenger within the airport premises.
In a separate case, another passenger arriving from Dubai was intercepted, leading to the recovery of an additional 455 grams of gold dust in wax form, provisionally valued at ₹33 lakh, along with high-value mobile phones worth ₹6.11 lakh. The gold was concealed within the passenger’s body cavity, while the phones were hidden in their baggage.
The investigation indicates a coordinated effort between the airport staff member and the two passengers, with officials stating that they had previously engaged in similar smuggling activities more than twice before. Both individuals are now facing charges under the provisions of the Customs Act.
