In multiple interceptions and searches, the Mumbai Airport Customs Zone-III officials have seized over 6.53 kg gold worth Rs 3.73 crore and eight expensive iPhones during the past 24 hours.
Acting on an intel tip-off, the customs sleuths found unclaimed 3,300 grams of gold dust concealed wax cases in the toilet commode of a Jeddah-Mumbai Vistara flight UK-236.
In another case, two Indians arriving here form Dubai by Spicejet flight SG-14 were caught with 24 pieces of gold jewelry weighing 1,278 gms. The Customs officials found gold hidden on the person and the trousers of the accused passengers.
Similarly, the Customs officials intercepted another Indian arriving here from Ras Al-Khaimah via IndiGo flight 6E-1492 and seized gold dust hidden in wax, 605 gms gold chains and three expensive iPhones. “The gold dust was concealed in the passenger’s rectum. He had hidden the gold chains and iPhone in his pants,” a Customs official said.
The customs sleuths also arrested one more Indian arriving from Abu Dhabi by IndiGo flight 6E-96 with one case of gold dust in wax and three gold articles weighing 520 gms and two iPhones, hidden in his rectum and trousers.
Simultaneously, an Indian arriving here from Hanoi by VietJet Air flight VJ-907 was taken into custody with 510 gms of gold dust in wax concealed in his headgear.
The Customs officials attributed the increase in gold smuggling to the fact that the prices of gold had gone up to Rs 66,000 per tola (11.66 grams). “Apart from the increase in the gold rates, another reason for the increase in the gold smuggling is that the wedding season started now,” a Customs official said.
