Delhi Customs officials have arrested three persons for allegedly trying to smuggle gold and foreign currency in separate incidents in national Capital on Saturday.

In first incident, two persons including an Air India and SATS (Singapore Airport Terminal Services) employee for their alleged involvement in smuggling gold bars worth over Rs 26 lakh at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. While in another incident, a Bangkok bound passenger was nabbed at IGI for allegedly trying to illegally export foreign currency equivalent to over Rs 42 lakh concealed in his check-in baggage.

In first incident, according to a senior Customs official, on Saturday, a passenger arrived at the Terminal-3 of IGI Airport by an Air India Flight. “He was intercepted by the customs officials at the multilevel car parking and brought to the arrival hall along with his baggage,” said the senior Customs official.

 “During search, four gold bars weighing 466 grams worth Rs 15,03,277 was recovered. Besides, he had handed over three gold bars weighing 350 grams worth Rs 11,29,071 to the Air India SATS’ Passenger Service Assistant,” said the senior Customs official.

“Those three gold bars were recovered from a washroom near the Arrival Gate number 11 and 13. The recovered gold bars have been seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, and both the passenger and the Air India SATS employee have been arrested,” said the senior Customs official adding that further investigation is going on.

“There is a 50:50 joint venture between Air India Limited and Singapore-based SATS Limited which offers end-to-end ground handling services such as passenger and baggage handling, aircraft interior cleaning and cargo handling services among others”, they said.

In another incident “The passenger was about to board a flight to Bangkok on Saturday when he was intercepted. A personal and baggage search resulted in the recovery of foreign currency equivalent to Rs 42,61,920 concealed in his check-in baggage,” said the senior Customs official.

“During interrogation, the arrested passenger admitted to his involvement in smuggling of foreign currency in his last visit as well,” the Customs officials said.