MUMBAI: India Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 6.8 kg gold worth Rs 2 crore and detained four persons, including an Air India cabin crew member, at Mumbai International Airport for gold smuggling here the other day. DRI feels that smugglers are increasingly opting for safe arrangements, like using crew members or contract staff at the airport to get rid out from security checking.
Mumbai-based Siddesh Patil has been an operating cabin crew on contract of Air India 985/986 of January 21 and 22. Siddesh and three other persons were apprehended by officials of DRI in connection with exchanging crude gold jewellery and pieces from one lady passenger who arrived by Oman Air flight to Mumbai.
DRI seized the smuggled gold having total weight of 6.8 kg with valuation approximately Rs 2 crore. According to DRI sources, among four of them, one purchased gold in the UAE, he handed over to a lady passenger who was also a carrier. She landed on Mumbai Airport with the gold and handed over to Air India crew member – who took it out of Airport and handed over to the receiver waiting outside the Airport.
“Because of having a special staff privilege, Siddesh was able to take this gold out concealed in his bag,” DRI source said.
DRI has detained all the four persons involved in the gold smuggling racket, statements were getting recorded till late night. Ironically, in December 2013, the DRI had asked the national carrier to take necessary measures to check its staffers.
In a letter written by former Directorate General of DRI Najeeb Shah, Air India had been asked to sanitise its staff, especially those involved in ground-handling duties. In 2013, an Air India air hostess and her friend were arrested by DRI from Calicut International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country 6 kg of gold.
Earlier, in October 2013, 32 kg of gold biscuits, worth Rs 15 crore in the international market, were recovered from the lavatory of an Air India flight when it reached Chennai from Dubai. Four persons were later arrested in the case.
In the same month in 2013, three Air India staffers were also arrested at IGI airport by customs officials for allegedly trying to smuggle gold out of the country. Further, even in April 2014, an air passenger and an Air India employee were arrested at Mumbai Airport after 5 gold bars collectively valued at Rs 1.27 crore which were allegedly being smuggled in, were confiscated.
Fact remains, its not only the Air India staffers are playing major role in the larger gold smuggling racket, even officials of private airlines are involved too.
