The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai intercepted a syndicate of airport staff employed at duty free shop involved in smuggling gold at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai, on January 3. The staff were involved in smuggling of gold by retrieving it from International transit terminal in small batches, consolidating and delivering it outside the airport.
DRI officers intercepted two airport staff members when they were transporting the smuggled gold outside the airport. In subsequent follow up action, two receivers were also apprehended. On examination, 5 oval shaped capsules and 2 packets of gold dust in wax form were found. On assaying, 6.05 Kg of gold valued at Rs 4.84 Cr was recovered. The recovered gold dust in wax form (6.05 Kg) valued at Rs 4.84 Cr was seized and all 4 persons were arrested, under provisions of Customs Act,1962.
Meanwhile, a day later, the Air-Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs department arrested two persons in a drug- smuggling case at the CSMIA in the early hours of Saturday, on January 4, and allegedly recovered 4.41 kilograms of hydroponic weed (cannabis) worth ₹4.41 crore from one of them.
Muhammed Paramb, 26, a resident of Kozhikode, Kerala has arrived at the city airport on DD-938 Nok Air Airlines from Bangkok.
He had allegedly smuggled the contraband from Bangkok to Mumbai by concealing the same among the clothes in the trolley bag, said a source.
In the follow up action of this operation, the receiver of the contraband, Ahmed K P, also a Kerala (Kasaragod) resident, was also intercepted, the source added.
During interrogation, Paramb admitted that he was to get a hefty commission for the smuggling of contraband. Both the accused have been arrested under NDPS Act for indulging in smuggling of commercial quantities of marijuana. According to the NDPS Act, more than 1 kg of Marijuana is considered a commercial quantity.
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