NEW DELHI: Four persons, including a ground handling staff, have been arrested in separate incidents at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi for allegedly trying to smuggle gold valuing about Rs. 2.5 crore into the country.
The customs officials said that they have seized 11 kgs of gold in two separate cases reported on Tuesday, in which the role of an employee of AISATS–a joint venture between Air India Limited and SATS Limited (a leading gateway services and food solutions provider in Asia) is suspected.
In the first case, nine kilograms of gold was seized from two passengers who had boarded separate flights from Hong Kong and Bangkok. The duo was intercepted by the customs officials after their arrival in New Delhi.
“We have seized nine kilograms of gold from these two passengers who have been arrested,” said Vinayak Azaad, Additional Commissioner of customs at the IGIA.
He said one of the employees of AISATS is suspected to have connived with the duo.
“We are looking into his role,” Mr Azaad said.
In another case, a male passenger and an employee of pest control firm working at the airport have been arrested for smuggling two kilograms gold.
The passenger was intercepted by the customs after his arrival from Dubai in New Delhi on Tuesday. He was allegedly trying to smuggle in the yellow metal in connivance with the ground staff, the official said.
“In all eleven kilograms of the gold has been seized in these cases and four persons have been arrested,” Mr Azaad said.
The value of the seized gold is assessed to be Rs. 2.56 crore, the official added.
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