Six held at Mumbai airport with 12 kg gold worth Rs 5.38 crore

Mumbai: Alert Customs officials at the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport foiled an attempt by a group of Sudanese passenger on arrival to divert attention for aiding accomplice with 12 kgs of gold of Rs 5.38 crore escape.

The contraband gold seized was concealed in a specially designed belt worn by a Sudanese passenger.

According to the customs officers on duty at the arrival lounge of the international terminal, a dozen odd foreign passengers at the airport created commotion to divert attention and help the accused escape but were overpowered by the alert staff.

The customs officer added, "A total of 6 passengers have been detained and 6 others are being deported. It is a regular tactics of some nationals indulging in illicit trafficking to work in groups and create ruckus to divert attention while the contraband is smuggled past customs.”

The official said that the accused did not declare the said recovered gold weighing 12 kg at the Red Channel before the officers with deliberate intention to clear the impugned goods clandestinely.

"Therefore, the said recovered goods were seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act. We have booked a case of smuggling of gold in this respect," said the official.

Further investigation is ongoing.