Passenger with Rupees 20 lakh gold arrested at Hyderabad airport

Hyderabad: Customs officials of the Rajiv Gandhi Airport, Hyderabad, intercepted a passenger from Muscat trying to smuggle 700 gm gold on Sunday. The accused, Quazi Eajaz Ahmed, a native of north Karnataka, had concealed 6 gold biscuits in secret pockets fixed on his belt. Customs officials arrested him since the worth of gold is more than Rs 20 lakh.

Officials said that the accused arrived at Hyderabad by Oman Airways jet (WY0235) early on Sunday. “His belt had cloth pockets. The biscuits were inside those pockets. and the belt was wrapped around his hip,” said a customs official.

Customs officials suspected him with his passport showing frequent visits abroad. “He has travelled frequently according to his passport. While usually he would arrive in Bangalore, this time, he chose to arrive in Hyderabad,”  said an official.

Customs officials have started a probe into the origin of the gold suspecting that the passenger is part of a larger smuggling gang.