HYDERABAD: In one of the most significant gold seizures at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, the Air Intelligence Unit (AI) of the Hyderabad Customs department seized 14.9 kg of gold worth Rs 7.89 crore from 23 women Sudan nationals who had arrived from Sharjah early on Thursday.
The AIU said that based on credible information, passenger profiling and intelligence developed by the Customs department, the officials intercepted the women at the international arrivals area. They had arrived on the same flight and were on a business visa; most of them were first-time flyers.
A search revealed that the passengers had concealed the gold in small cavities created in their shoes and in the folds of their clothing. They also had gold tied under their feet.
The AIU said the haul included 14.415 kgs of 22-karat gold and 0.491 kgs of 24-karat gold valued at Rs 7,89,43,544. The gold was seized and four women were arrested based on the quantity of gold they were carrying.
