The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai has seized 3,350 grams of gold, valued at INR 2.67 Crore, in a successful operation at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). Two individuals—a ground handling staff member of Celebi NAS Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd and a customer service executive were arrested in connection with the smuggling operation. It was allegedly smuggled from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and seized during an operation conducted at Mumbai airport.
A personal search of the lady resulted in the recovery of two packets having 3,350gm of gold in paste form. Further, officers also apprehended the ground handling staff member who had retrieved the smuggled gold from the waste cart of flight EY200 and handed it over to the lady for smuggling it out of the airport using her Aerodrome Entry Permit (AEP), the DRI said.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted the customer service executive at the airport’s exit gate, recovering the gold hidden in paste form. Investigations revealed that the ground handling staff member had retrieved the gold from a waste cart of flight EY200 and handed it over to the executive to smuggle it out using her Aerodrome Entry Permit (AEP). Both individuals have been arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.