The Delhi Police has arrested five people, including a 40 year-old woman suspected to be the ‘kingpin’ of gold smuggling gang, operating at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
“The woman identified as Urmila was revealed by a passenger, who had arrived from Dubai on Sunday and was caught trying to smuggle gold into the country weighing around 2.8 kg with market value of Rs 86.58 lakh at THE Delhi airport,” said Dr Amandeep Singh, Additional Commissioner of Customs.
“During interrogation, the woman passenger told customs officers that she was allegedly used as a carrier in lieu of money by Urmila. It was also claimed that she was the kingpin of a gold smuggling racket,” said Dr Singh.
“Based on the woman’s claim, the customs officers decided to carry out search at the residential premises owned by Urmila. Once the team reached the premises, Urmila started abusing the officers and assaulted the team following which additional personnel from IGI airport and police assistance was simultaneously requisitioned,” said Dr Singh.
“Some people pelted stones at customs officials’ vehicles to deter them from carrying out their duty. We have registered a complaint in the Maurya Nagar police station,” Dr Singh added.
“The incident occurred on Sunday. We have filed a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). We have also arrested five people, including Urmila. The other four arrested are relative of Urmila. They were produced before a local court that sent them to 14 days in judicial custody,” said the senior police official.