₹95lakh gold seized at Amritsar airport, 21 held
BIG HAUL 18 Turkmenistan nationals, including 15 women, among those arrested; seizure made in 4 cases over the weekend; gold in the form of chains, rings and bracelets recovered
AMRITSAR : The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of customs department has seized gold worth ₹ 95 lakh in four separate cases with the arrest of 21 persons, including 18 Turkmenistan nationals, at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, on Saturday and Sunday.
Commissioner of customs (preventive) Dipak Gupta said customs officials nabbed 18 Turkmenistan nationals, including 15 women, in two separate cases and recovered gold worth Rs 40 lakh in the form of chains, rings and bracelets from their possession.
They came from Turkmenistan capital Ashgabat on Turkmenistan Airlines flights on Saturday and Sunday.
Gupta said two international passengers travelling from Dubai via Air India Express flight IX 192 were intercepted by the officers of AIU at the airport on Sunday.
“On their personal search, the officials found six gold biscuits and 12 cut pieces of biscuits of gold (24 carat) of foreign origin, weighing 398 gm and valued at Rs 44 lakh, concealed inside their bodies (rectum),” he said.
The passengers in their statement confessed that they concealed, carried and smuggled gold into India, he added.
Gupta said a Canadian national arriving from Dubai on Spice Jet flight SG 056 was intercepted on Saturday by custom officials while crossing the green channel and 1 gold chain of 24 carat, weighing 300 gm and valued Rs 9.5 lakh, was seized from the passenger.
The commissioner, however, didn’t disclose the identity of the accused, saying the investigation is still on.
He said the gold biscuits and jewellery have been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.