Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit, arrested five persons, including a Dubai-bound passenger and two airport cleaning staff, after busting an alleged gold smuggling syndicate at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and seizing 3.866 kg of smuggled gold dust in wax form valued at Rs 5.63 crore.

According to the DRI remand application filed before a Mumbai court, the operation was launched after officers received specific intelligence that passenger Mohamed Urwa, arriving from Dubai on Emirates flight EK504 on July 22, would conceal smuggled gold inside the aircraft, which would later be retrieved by airport housekeeping staff.

DRI officers intercepted Urwa after he disembarked at around 12.30 pm and kept the aircraft under surveillance.