Mumbai Customs seizes gold, electronics worth Rs 8.68 crore at airport; three held

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The Mumbai Customs has seized 10.6 kg of gold and electronics worth Rs 8.68 crore and foreign currency in 31 cases at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, an official said on Monday, reported the PTI.

Three persons were arrested in connection with the seizures in the last four days, the official said.

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According to the PTI, gold in various forms, such as gold dust in wax, crude jewellery and bars, was found concealed in an electric iron and the body of a passenger, a press release issued by Mumbai Custom Zone-III said.

The Mumbai Customs officials apprehended a contractual staffer of the airport, who had concealed four pouches of gold dust in wax, valued at Rs 81.8 lakh, inside his shoes, the release said.

Meanwhile, in another case, two Indians travelling from Bahrain and Male had hidden 1890 gm of gold dust in wax in their bodies.

All three accused involved in these seizures were arrested, it was stated.

During the four-day operation, officials also seized gold from five foreign nationals travelling from Nairobi, Colombo and Dubai and 14 Indians from Dubai, Jeddah, Sharjah and Singapore, as per the PTI.

Eight Indians travelling from Dubai were found carrying expensive mobile phones, laptops and cosmetics valued at Rs 1.95 crore, while a passenger travelling from

Mumbai to Doha was caught with 74,000 Qatari riyals valued at Rs 17.5 lakh, the press release said.

In an another case earlier this month, the Mumbai Customs had seized 11.62 kg of gold and iPhones valued at Rs 7.44 crore and Rs 12 lakh in cash in separate cases at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, an official said on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

The action was taken in 18 cases of contraband seizure.

The officials had said that seven people were arrested and taken into police custody.

In a similar case, the officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Mumbai airport intercepted a Brazilian national on May 8, 2024, based on specific intelligence regarding drug smuggling. The suspect aroused suspicion and upon questioning, confessed to ingesting capsules containing drugs, intending to smuggle them into India.

"On questioning the passenger admitted to having ingested capsules containing drugs and carrying the same in his body for smuggling into India. The passenger was produced before the Magistrate and as per the court order, he was admitted to Sir JJ Hospital, Mumbai," an official had earlier said.

(with PTI inputs)