Gold smuggling: Customs arrest 2 at Mumbai airport, 2 aides also arrested

As per specific information received by AIU officials, two persons —Lal Singh and Ratan Khan—were caught as they crossed the green channel at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. “They had landed from Riyadh in the wee hours on Sunday by Flynas Airline flight,” said an official, adding, “While they were proceeding towards the exit gate from Customs arrival hall, the two were intercepted.”

Upon searching the two passengers, officials recovered 24 karat Gold Dust in wax (7 pieces) weighing 2,045 grams.” The provisional value of the recovered gold is nearly Rs 1.13 crore which they had concealed in their rectum, AIU officials said.

During initial inquiry, Singh and Khan admitted to possessing and smuggling the seized gold, but alleged that the gold did not belong to them. They claimed they were carrying gold for a monetary benefit of Rs 20,000 and 15,000.
Upon questioning them, officials identified the roles of two others—Gulam Shabir and Mustfa Raza— who were to receive the gold. They were also traced and apprehended.

The statements of Shabir and Raza were recorded on Sunday, and they admitted to being part of a syndicate involved in smuggling gold into the country, without declaring the goods to customs authorities and without paying custom duty.

The four accused were arrested at around 5 pm under sections 135(1) (a), 135(1)(b), 135 (1) (i) and 104 of the Customs Act along with section 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code, and produced before court on Monday.
The AIU in its plea to court said, “Investigation is at a preliminary stage and the nexus is yet to be revealed by the accused. Further, if the accused/ passenger is set free, they may flee the country and will not be available for further investigation, which is required to break the bigger nexus involved in smuggling activities. Also, if set free, they may influence and tamper with material evidence related to the smuggling activity, which may adversely affect investigation.”

The four accused were then remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.