Gold smuggling exposed at Mumbai airport, gold was made into powder and hidden in food items
Mumbai: In a major action, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have arrested three Indian passengers for allegedly smuggling gold.
According to officials, gold hidden in the form of powder has been recovered from the passengers. The investigation revealed that gold was very cleverly mixed in packed food items for smuggling, so that it could not be identified during normal investigation.
Action against passengers coming from Dubai
The operation was jointly conducted by DRI Mumbai Zonal Unit and AIU of Mumbai Airport Customs. Officials said that the three arrested passengers had reached Mumbai from Dubai.
While checking the passengers’ luggage, officials found some suspicious material. After this, a thorough search of the goods was conducted, in which a new method of hiding the gold was revealed.
Gold was hidden by making powder
According to officials, the smugglers had converted the foreign-origin gold into fine powder. After this, this powder was mixed in such packed food items, whose color and texture were similar to gold powder.
The smugglers had adopted this method so that the gold could not be easily seized during investigation. Officials said that this method of concealment was quite different and advanced.
Secret revealed in detailed examination of luggage
The officials deployed at the airport conducted a detailed check of the passengers’ luggage. In the initial investigation, suspicious packets were identified, after which they were examined.
During investigation, officials discovered that the contents inside the packaging were not ordinary food items, but had gold powder mixed in them.
Keep an eye on new methods of smuggling
People smuggling gold have been continuously adopting new methods. There have been cases of bringing gold, sometimes by hiding it in the body and sometimes by hiding it in different forms inside the luggage.
In this case too, to protect the gold from detection, the smugglers adopted the method of turning it into powder and mixing it with food items.
Officials increased surveillance
DRI and Customs officials remain constantly alert at the airport to check passengers and their luggage. Special surveillance is maintained on passengers arriving on international flights.
Officials say that action is taken on the basis of modern technology and intelligence to stop smuggling.
Further investigation continues
At present the three passengers caught are being interrogated. Officials are trying to find out who are behind this smuggling and where the gold was to be delivered.
Apart from this, information about the quantity, price and entire smuggling network of gold is also being collected.
Increased security at the airport
Mumbai Airport is included among the major international airports of the country. A large number of international travelers travel from here. In such a situation, stopping smuggling of gold and other banned items remains a big challenge for the security agencies.
This action of DRI and Customs has once again revealed that smugglers are adopting new methods to avoid investigation, but security agencies are also continuously keeping an eye on such efforts.
At present, further legal action is going on in the case and the investigating agencies are investigating all aspects related to trafficking.