MUSCAT: Continuing their crusade against smuggling, the sleuths of Goa customs thwarted a major attempt to smuggle gold, cigarettes and saffron, all worth Rs 16 lakh at Dabolim international airport on Sunday evening. According to the information, the Oman Air Flight WY 207 which arrived at Goa airport on Sunday evening, the officers of Air Intelligence unit of Goa Customs headed by the assistant commissioner intercepted two international passengers.
“The international passengers had arrived from Dubai via Muscat by Oman air flight and where intercepted while they were trying to hoodwink the Customs officers. However, their plan was foiled by the alertness and vigilance of the Customs officers and the search of their baggage resulted in the recovery of 360 gms of gold, 119 cartons of foreign made cigarettes from one passenger and 4.3 kgs of saffron and 50 cartons of foreign made cigarettes from another. The gold was stealthily hidden in the wrist watch and also stitched in form of circular wires, to resemble embroidery on the dress material. The said gold, cigarettes and saffron were seized under the provisions of customs Act 1962. The total value of seized goods was approximately Rs 16 lakh,” a Customs spokesperson said.
The whole exercise was successfully conducted by the officers at Dabolim Airport under the Supervision of G B Santimano, Additional Commissioner of Customs. It is also informed that the Customs officers had also seized 500 cartons of foreign made cigarettes on November 28, 2017 from three international passengers.
