Mystery bag triggers scare at IGIA, cops find gold biscuits

NINE GOLD BARS — WEIGHING 1KG EACH, WORTH APPROX RS 3 CRORE — WERE RECOVERED WHEN THE BAG WAS OPENED

NEW DELHI: A black laptop bag found in one of the washrooms at the Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport triggered panic about a possible security threat on Wednesday evening. The bag was later opened by the Central Industrial Security Force’s bomb disposal squad. Nine gold biscuits weighing 1kg each, worth Rs 3 crore, were found inside the bag.

According to senior CISF officers, at 11.55pm, a surveillance and intelligence team spotted a black laptop bag lying unattended inside the men’s washroom near international transfer area of Terminal 3. The CISF handles security of airports across the country.

“Since the source of the bag was unidentified, immediately the Bomb Disposal and Detection Squad was rushed to the spot and the area was cordoned off. Senior officers of the CISF and terminal manager were also informed and the bag was scanned for any possible threats,” said Hemendra Singh, additional inspector general, CISF.

It was only after making sure that there was no threat, the bag was opened and nine gold bars — weighing 1kg each, worth approx Rs 3 crore — were recovered, the officer said.

Singh said they informed the Customs and the bag along with the gold bars was handed over to them for investigation.

“The gold has been seized under section 110 of the Customs Act 1962 and further investigations are underway,” said Amandeep Singh, additional commissioner of customs, IGI Airport.

Last week, the CISF held two men for allegedly trying to smuggle gold worth over Rs 18 lakh at the Delhi airport.

The two men were caught red-handed when one of them tried to hand over the gold to another, in a men’s toilet at Terminal 3.