Hyderabad: Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Hyderabad Zonal Unit (HZU), thwarted a gold smuggling attempt at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) and arrested three individuals, including two ground handling staff.
The operation unfolded near the aerobridge at the international passengers’ arrival gate, where DRI officials intercepted an Indian passenger who arrived from Dubai via Muscat. The passenger was caught red-handed while handing over smuggled gold to a ground handling staff member.
Further investigation revealed that the gold was to be delivered to another ground staff member waiting in the airport’s parking area. The plan was to later return the gold to the same passenger once he exited the customs area, thereby evading detection.