MUMBAI: Customs officials seized gold worth Rs 22 lakh concealed inside footwear and a dummy wrist watch from a passenger who arrived from Bangkok late on Monday. The passenger, Mohamad Kazi, was arrested for smuggling gold but was subsequently released on bail.
Kazi followed the standard procedure for frisking at the airport for suspected passengers. But officials suspected something wrong after observing the unusual weight of his watch and footwear. They examined the stuff closely and found the gold was concealed in a cavity of his footwear. A dummy wrist watch was actually made of gold.
Officials stated that normally they get suspected passengers to take off their metallic belongings while crossing the metal detector door at the airport. Kazi removed his belt, watch, wallet, mobile and shoes and kept the articles in the tray before passing through the metal detector. He assumed the officials would not check the articles in detail and he would walk away with the gold. But officials at the gate noticed the articles were heavy and decided to check them, when they found the gold concealed inside.
Customs officials said during the festive season, mainly Diwali, there is a great demand of unaccounted gold in the market and gold smuggling increases at the airport.
