Air passenger held with Rs 44.6 lakh gold at RGI Airport
The airline employee who was already inside the toilet received the gold from the passenger.
Hyderabad: A passenger was arrested along with an airline staffer while he was trying smuggle 12 gold bars weighing 1.3 kg worth Rs 44.60 lakh.
According to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the passenger whose identity was not disclosed arrived by an Etihad Airlines flight at RGI Airport early on Wednesday. “Based on information that a passenger would arrive by an Etihad Airlines flight and would be assisted by an employee of Air India-SATS (to smuggle gold), a trap was laid,” said the official.
After alighting from the flight, the passenger entered the lounge and went into a toilet. The airline employee who was already inside the toilet received the gold from the passenger.
“The officials immediately caught them and seized 12 gold bars of foreign origin. On examination, the gold bars were found the weigh about 1399.200 grams and valued at Rs 44,60,640.
The Air India-SATS employee said that he had been designated to assist Thai Airways.
The passenger attempting to smuggle the gold into the country and the receiver who assisted him were arrested.
The smuggled gold has been seized under Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is in progress, said the additional director-general, DRI.