11 returning home held with gold

Eleven passengers who arrived at the Shamshabad airport in Vande Bharat Mission flights were held by the Customs officials for smuggling 3.1 kg gold from Saudi Arabia. Five Sudan nationals who attempted to smuggle 78.5 kg of sandalwood pieces to Sudan were also held.

The flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, which was operated especially for guest workers stranded abroad, landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Thursday night. Based on the profile of the passengers, and suspicions on their movement, Customs officials took the 11 passengers for detailed checking.

During physical checking, the officials found the gold concealed in specially-made pockets inside their trousers. The gold was being smuggled in bars, and was valued at `1.66 crore.

“All the eleven air passengers hail Telangana state. They lost their jobs due to Covid-19, and were returning home. Taking advantage of their condition, smugglers lured the passengers to carry the gold,” said a customs official.

In another instance at the RGI Airport, Central Industrial Security Force personnel have caught five Sudan nationals who attempted to smuggle out sandalwood by concealing in their baggage.

The Sudan nationals were to leave to their country from Delhi, from where international flights are scheduled. The five Sudanese have booked tickets from Hyderabad to Khartoum in Sudan. They were carrying 78.5 kg of sandalwood pieces concealed in their baggage. A case has been registered against them and further investigation is underway by the Customs, said the official.