DRI Discovers Gold Valued at Rs 6.30 Crore at Mumbai Airport, Two Arrested

Synopsis

On April 12, the DRI confiscated gold worth Rs 6.30 crore from a passenger at Mumbai's airport. Following intelligence reports, 14 gold bars were discovered hidden in the traveler's shoe, leading to two arrests and ongoing investigations.

Key Takeaways

DRI seized gold valued at Rs 6.30 crore.
14 gold bars were found concealed in a passenger's shoe.
Both the passenger and the recipient were arrested.
Investigation is ongoing under the Customs Act, 1962.
This incident follows previous arrests related to gold smuggling.

Mumbai, April 12 (NationPress) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has reported the confiscation of foreign-origin gold valued at Rs 6.30 crore from a traveler at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in this city.

Following specific intelligence, DRI officials apprehended a traveler arriving from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG 317.

A thorough personal search resulted in the recovery of 14 gold bars of varying weights, totaling 6,735.42 grams. The gold, estimated at around Rs 6.30 crore, was cleverly hidden in the passenger's shoe.

“The concealment was ingenious, with the gold bars tucked away in the footwear of the traveler,” stated a DRI official.

During the interrogation, the passenger willingly revealed the name of the intended recipient of the smuggled gold. Consequently, the DRI detained the buyer as well.

“In his statement, the buyer acknowledged his role in the smuggling operation,” the official added.

Both the traveler and the buyer have been arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The smuggled gold has been confiscated, and an extensive investigation is currently ongoing.

Previously, on February 14, the DRI announced the arrest of three Iranian nationals for allegedly smuggling gold at the Mumbai airport.

As per an official statement, DRI officials in Mumbai intercepted three Iranian nationals based on specific intelligence who were traveling from Dubai to Mumbai.

During the search, officers found seven one-kilogram foreign-marked gold bars and a cut piece of a foreign-marked gold bar concealed in waist bags and underneath the clothing of two passengers.

The total amount of gold seized reached 7.143 kilograms, valued at around Rs 6.28 crore. The gold was confiscated, and the three Iranian nationals were arrested under the Customs Act, 1962.