Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport Customs officials on Wednesday arrested a 55-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man for allegedly smuggling gold worth Rs 1.61 crore. The accused persons had concealed the gold in their innerwear, officials said.
According to the Customs sources, two passengers namely Parvin Bi and Mahir Khan, both residents of Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh were intercepted near exit gate of arrival hall after crossing the green channel by custom officers on the basis of specific Intelligence for suspicion of carrying contraband items.
The AIU officers took personal search of Parvin Bi and found a pouch containing gold dust in wax form weighing 1534 grams concealed in her innerwear. Thereafter personal search of Mahir Khan was conducted and the officers recovered pouch gold weighing 450 gms. Total value of the seized gold is Rs 1.16 crore, officials said.
The agency officials then recorded statement of accused persons wherein they had admitted to have concealed, carriage, non declaration and recovery of seized goods. Khan in his statement admitted that he was involved in smuggling of the said gold dust in wax in lieu of monetary consideration.
"Investigation is at preliminary stage and AIU is trying to find out the mastermind and other accomplices of this racket. The investigations in the case are at a very preliminary stage and efforts are also being made to identify and apprehend key associates of the accused," said an AIU official.
