The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs Department at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport) has exposed a case of gold smuggling. Based on special intelligence and profiling, AIU team kept a female and a male passenger arriving from Dubai to Delhi under surveillance due to suspicious activities. Both the passengers had reached Delhi on the night of 18/19 September by Emirates flight EK-514.

According to customs officials, the activities of both the passengers were being monitored from the flight gate itself. The officers saw both of them talking to each other outside the washroom near belt number 12-13 inside the airport. After this, both the passengers were stopped while coming out of the green channel and were examined.

Male passenger suspected in DFMD investigation

During the investigation, the luggage of the female passenger was searched. Besides, its DFMD (Door Frame Metal Detector) test was also done, but no suspicious object was found. At the same time, during the DFMD checking of the male passenger, a loud beeping sound was heard. After this, the customs officials started a detailed search of him.

During the search, 11 gold bars were recovered from the male passenger. According to the Customs Department, the total weight of the recovered gold is 2,168 grams i.e. about 2.17 kg.

10 gold bars of 10-tola, one bar of 1 kg

Investigation by the Customs Department revealed that among the recovered gold, 10 gold bars were of 10-tola weight, while the weight of one gold bar was 1 kilogram. The total amount of gold recovered in this way was found to be 2.168 kg. Custom officials have confiscated the recovered gold. In the initial investigation, this case is believed to be to gold smuggling. Action has been initiated against both the passengers under Customs Act, 1962.

Action taken on the basis of intelligence information

The AIU team of the Customs Department constantly keeps an eye on suspicious passengers and possible cases of smuggling at the airport. In this sequence, on the basis of special intelligence information and profiling of the passengers, the activities of both the passengers were found suspicious, after which they were taken under surveillance.

At present the Customs Department is further investigating the matter. Investigative agencies are trying to find out from where the recovered gold was brought, to whom it was to be handed over in Delhi and whether any big smuggling network is involved in this case or not. More information is expected to emerge in the case after the investigation is completed.