Mumbai: The customs department has seized diamonds and gold, collectively worth ₹6.46 crore, in 13 cases at Mumbai airport from Friday to Sunday last week and arrested four accused passengers. The diamonds were allegedly found hidden in noodle packets in transparent airtight zipper pouches and kept in a check-in bag, while the gold was concealed in body parts of some passengers and luggage, sources said .
An Indian national traveling from Mumbai to Bangkok was intercepted and allegedly involved in an attempt to smuggle diamonds worth ₹2.02 million by concealment. The diamonds, including “loose natural diamonds” and “synthetic diamonds,” were found hidden in noodle packets inside her roller bag. The passenger was arrested and taken into custody by a municipal court, according to the sources.
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On the other hand, gold dust contained in wax was reportedly found inside body parts of some passengers and gold bars recovered from pants pockets, luggage and inside underwear of some passengers, the sources said. A total of 6.81 kg of gold were seized, according to sources. Sources said a foreign national, who had traveled to Mumbai from Colombo, was intercepted on suspicion and examined, which revealed 24 carat gold bars and a cut coin, of net weight of 321 grams, which would have been concealed in his underwear.
On the other hand, 10 Indian nationals, arrived from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Doha (Qatar), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Muscat (Oman), Bangkok (Thailand) and Singapore , were intercepted and found. carrying 6.19 kg of gold, valued at ₹4.04 crore, which was allegedly concealed in body parts and inside the baggage. Gold dust was also found hidden inside the waistband of jeans worn by a passenger and in another case, a plate of gold was found camouflaged as a credit card in a passenger’s wallet. passenger, sources said. Three of the passengers were arrested.
