Mumbai: In the biggest-ever gold haul at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), customs authorities on Sunday seized gold bars worth over Rs6.5 crore in two separate cases and arrested as many passengers.
The accused persons had concealed the yellow metal inside their pockets and baggage and tried to employ similar tactics to hoodwink the customs staff. Later, it turned out that both had been engaged by the same syndicate.
Officials said the smugglers tried to impersonate airport staffers by pinning an identity card on to the chest. However, security personnel had found their behaviour suspicious right from the time they entered for customs checking.
Upon inspection, officials found the 'identity cards' to be driving licences. Sources in the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the airport Customs, which is investigating the case, said the duo had travelled separately for the job and were working for the same smuggling syndicate.
12/05/14 Daily News & Analysis
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The accused persons had concealed the yellow metal inside their pockets and baggage and tried to employ similar tactics to hoodwink the customs staff. Later, it turned out that both had been engaged by the same syndicate.
Officials said the smugglers tried to impersonate airport staffers by pinning an identity card on to the chest. However, security personnel had found their behaviour suspicious right from the time they entered for customs checking.
Upon inspection, officials found the 'identity cards' to be driving licences. Sources in the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the airport Customs, which is investigating the case, said the duo had travelled separately for the job and were working for the same smuggling syndicate.
12/05/14 Daily News & Analysis
