Iridium haul at airport, four youths detained

Kolkata: Early on Friday, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 4 kg of iridium powder, 5 kg of Ruthenium powder, six watches worth Rs5.75 lakh, and 35,400 memory cards from four youths of Kidderpore who reached Kolkata airport from Hong Kong via Bangkok. The goods were pegged at Rs2.12 crore. This is the biggest such haul in eastern India in recent time.
DRI sources said the four youths landed at NSCBI airport past midnight. The DRI officials subjected them to a search process which found packets covered with black tapes. One kg of iridium is worth Rs18 lakh while a kg of Ruthenium is worth Rs6 lakh. Sources revealed that iridium is often used to make gold weigh more. Many jewellers use iridium powder to deceive customers.
DRI officers said that these youths could not furnish any valid papers in support of their consignment.
Both DRI and Narcotics Control Bureau have been active in the airport, ever since a lot of banned drugs were found to have been smuggled out of it.
26/02/11 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Feb 2011