The Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said it seized 3.5 kg of smuggled gold of foreign origin at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Thursday.
Officials of the DRI’s Hyderabad zonal unit, acting on specific intelligence, intercepted an Indian passenger who had travelled from Dubai to Hyderabad via Muscat. He was intercepted near the aerobridge at the international passengers’ arrival gate along with a ground handling staff member working at the airport, a DRI statement said.
“The smuggled gold of foreign origin was being handed over to the ground handling staff by the passenger near the aerobridge,” the statement added.
The investigation revealed that the smuggled gold was supposed to be delivered to another ground staff member, waiting near the parking area at the airport.
“The second ground staff waiting at the parking would later return the said gold outside the airport to the same passenger after he exits the customs area,” the DRI’s preliminary investigation has found.
As many as 30 gold bars (10 tola each), concealed in three packets, were recovered from the passenger. The DRI valued the gold, weighing 3.5 kg gm and having 99.9% purity, at Rs 3.45 crore.
The passenger and both members of the ground handling staff were arrested under the Customs Act 1962 and remanded in judicial custody, the DRI said, adding that further investigation was in progress.
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This is the first notable seizure of smuggled foreign gold at the airport in a long time. In August 2024, the DRI seized 1,390 g of gold worth over Rs 1 crore from a passenger arriving from Dubai. The gold was concealed in the passenger’s shoes and backpack.
Hyderabad International Airport has been a key entry point for smuggled gold into the country. The point of origin is often found to be the Middle East.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
