AHMEDABAD: Indian Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs department foiled attempt of smuggle 3 kilograms of gold worth Rs 80.32 lakh at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport.
The SpiceJet flight had arrived from Dubai and after all the passengers alighted, the flight crew found a suspicious package beneath a seat. The AIU during its checking found three gold bars of 1 kg each. The gold has been seized as unclaimed goods under Customs Act 1962. Customs officials believe that due to vigilant checking being carried out in last few months at the international terminal may have forced the smuggler or carrier to leave the gold beneath the seat.
“It is a new modus operandi being used by the smuggler. The aircraft which arrived from Dubai on Saturday night was scheduled to operate on domestic route to either Mumbai or Delhi. The smuggler might have left the gold there so that the next passenger on domestic flight can take the consignment forward. It is easy to take the gold out from airport on domestic terminal in comparison to international terminal due to presence of customs,” said a customs official.
