INDIA. Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized Gold Paste weighing 48.20 kg valued at Rs 25.26 crore from three passengers who arrived from Sharjah at Surat International Airport in Gujarat on Saturday.
DRI seizes gold paste at Surat Airport
As per the official press release issued on Monday, the passengers suspected to be carrying gold in paste form arrived by Air India Express Flight No. IX172. The examination of their hand baggage and check-in baggage revealed that the 43.5 kg of gold in paste form was concealed in 20 white colour packets hidden in 5 black belts.
Later 4.67 kg of gold in paste form was found abandoned in the men’s washroom adjacent to the immigration checkpoint. The total of 48.20 kg of gold with 99% purity was valued at Rs. 25.26 crore.
The gold was seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, and a case was registered under Sections 132 and 135.
The gold was smuggled into India with the assistance of airport employees, and the gold exchange was set up to take place in a toilet before to immigration in order to avoid screening and inspection by authorities.
Three passengers and one customs agent were placed under custody following questioning in accordance with the Customs Act of 1962. To dismantle the entire gang, more research is being done to see whether additional people—including airport officials—were involved.
These seizures were a part of DRI’s ongoing campaign to stop the illegal importation of expensive products. The amount of gold seized was the highest in the recent past at the airport, according to authorities.
Also Read: President Droupadi Murmu’s Maharashtra Tour Highlights Education and Development Initiatives
