Mumbai Customs has seized in four separate operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, more than 10 kg of smuggled gold worth ₹8.47 crore. Between March 13 and 15, the crackdown resulted in the arrest of five people, including three private airport staff members. It was revealed that the accused had tried to put the gold in their clothes and undergarments.
The first of the two operations involves a private airport staffer who was intercepted and authorities find six oval-shaped capsules hidden in the pockets of his pants. The amount of gold dust in the wax form, which was in the capsules, was 2.8 kg, and was worth ₹2.27 crore. He was arrested under the Customs Act.
In the second seizure, another private staff member, this time working in the international departures area, was found with seven oval shaped capsules concealed in his undergarments. The 2.9 kg pure gold dust in wax form was worth ₹2.36 crore. He was immediately arrested.
In the third operation, the other private staffer who had concealed two pouches in their undergarments was apprehended. The 24-karat gold dust in the wax form was worth ₹1.31 crore and was held in these pouches, totaling 1.6 kg. Two other persons were arrested during further investigation of the smuggling network.
Customs also found gold in garbage bags in a separate case, after they had discovered it in garbage bags brought on an international flight. During the course of a routine rummaging of trash from the lavatories and pantry, the officers came across two black packages containing 3.1 kg of pure gold dust in wax forms worth ₹2.53 crore.
The authorities considered these incidents to be a component of a larger gold smuggling network. Security measures at the airport have been increased to prevent illegal gold trafficking, but the investigation is ongoing.
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