Diamonds and Gold Worth ₹6.46 Crore Seized at Mumbai Airport
In a significant seizure, customs officials at Mumbai airport intercepted and seized diamonds concealed in noodle packets and gold hidden in body parts and baggage of passengers, amounting to a collective value of ₹6.46 crore.
Diamond and Gold Smuggling Attempts Foiled
During a routine check, Indian customs officials intercepted an Indian national attempting to smuggle diamonds concealed in noodle packets hidden inside his trolley bag. The man was traveling from Mumbai to Bangkok. In another incident, a foreign national arriving from Colombo to Mumbai was found carrying gold bars and a cut piece, with a net weight of 321 grams, concealed within her undergarments.
Multiple Indian Nationals Intercepted with Gold
Customs officials also intercepted at least 10 Indian nationals arriving from various destinations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Riyadh, Muscat, Bangkok, and Singapore, with a total of 6.199 kg of gold, valued at ₹4.04 crore. Three of these individuals were subsequently arrested.
Restaurant Employee Arrested for Aiding Smuggling
In a related development, a 38-year-old employee of a fast-food restaurant, identified as Pandian, was arrested by the Air Intelligence Unit of Mumbai customs. He was allegedly assisting in the smuggling of gold by hiding six oval capsules of gold in his belt, valued at approximately ₹1.86 crore. His role involved receiving gold at the departure area and handing it over to members of the smuggling racket outside the airport.
The ongoing investigation has revealed that the arrested individuals were part of a larger smuggling racket operating in Mumbai. The seized diamonds and gold have been handed over to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for further investigation and prosecution.
