Mumbai: In a major operation, officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized nearly seven kg of 24-carat gold being smuggled into the country through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on the intervening night of August 29/30.
Six persons, including an airport employee, have been taken into custody in this connection.
“Operation Midnight Goldstrike” was planned on the basis of specific intelligence regarding a syndicate involving transit passengers travelling between Dubai, Bangkok and Male via Mumbai and an airport staff member.
DRI officials first intercepted the airport employee as he was exiting the airport with seven capsules containing gold dust in wax form. On questioning, the airport staff member disclosed the involvement of transit passengers in the smuggling and clandestine removal of the gold from the airport.
“Subsequent action by DRI officers led to the identification and interception of the other members of the syndicate and the recovery of additional gold capsules,” the DRI said in a statement.
“In all, 16 capsules containing 6.859 kg of 24-carat gold dust in wax form, valued at nearly Rs 10.75 crore, were recovered and seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. All six persons, comprising five transit passengers (all Bangladeshi nationals) and one airport staff member, were arrested.Further investigation is in progress,” it added.
Through this operation, the DRI has exposed the involvement of insider airport staff in organised smuggling, having serious security and economic implications.