Airport customs team foils gold smuggling attempt

PANAJI/VASCO: The air intelligence wing of Goa Customs foiled an attempt to smuggle gold on Tuesday with the seizure of 512g of gold valued at Rs 21.8 lakh. Customs sleuths have nabbed a West Bengal resident who is part of the smuggling ring.

A team of customs officials headed by assistant commissioner of customs Y B Sahare apprehended the passenger after he landed at Goa International Airport aboard IndiGo flight 6E 6913.

Aside from the gold, officials also found four different Aadhaar cards with different names with the passenger. “The investigation so far has revealed that smuggled gold was brought by an international passenger from Dubai to Kochi airport and was purposely left in the flight with knowledge that the same aircraft would fly from Kochi to Hyderabad and on to Goa,” said commisioner of Goa customs Mihir Ranjan.

The West Bengal resident picked up the gold blocks at Hyderabad and flew to Goa. He was apprehended by Goa Customs with assistance from a directorate of revenue intelligence officer. Earlier in January, customs sleuths had foiled a similar attempt to smuggle gold with a Kolkata resident being detained at Dabolim.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/airport-customs-team-foils-gold-smuggling-attempt/articleshow/82307035.cms