MUMBAI: The DRI busting smuggling bid arrested 18 female Sudan nationals and one Indian at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai who arrived from UAE.
According to an on-duty officer, gold over Rs 10 crore has been seized. “The passengers came in three flights and were intercepted by the team of DRI officers at the airport,” the official said.
The DRI officials are said to have intercepted the gang acting on a tip-off. Gold in the form of paste and cut pieces and jewelry was recovered during the search. Overall, gold worth Rs 10.16 crore was recovered.
Officials added that it was difficult to retrieve the gold as the suspects had concealed it in their bodies.
“Further, during a follow-up search at related premises, 1.42 kg gold valued approximately at Rs Rs 85 lakh, along with foreign currency worth Rs 16 lakh and Indian currency of Rs 88 lakh, were also recovered,” it revealed.