In a major bust, gold bars worth Rs 75 lakh were seized from an aircraft’s toilet at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The gold bars, weighing around 2.5 kg, were found during a routine search by customs officials.
According to officials, the gold bars were hidden inside a toilet compartment on the aircraft. The flight had arrived from Dubai and was scheduled to fly to Amritsar. The gold bars were seized and the matter is under investigation.
Customs officials have not yet made any arrests in connection with the seizure. However, they are investigating the possibility of a larger smuggling ring involved in the transport of the gold bars.
This is not the first time that gold smuggling has been detected at Delhi’s airport. In 2020, customs officials seized gold worth over Rs 72 crore from passengers arriving from Dubai. The gold was hidden in luggage, shoes, and other personal belongings.
Gold smuggling is a lucrative business in India, where the import of gold is heavily regulated and subject to high taxes. Smugglers often bring in gold from countries like Dubai and Singapore, where it is cheaper and more easily available.
The pandemic has also led to an increase in gold smuggling, as international travel has become more difficult and expensive. Smugglers have taken advantage of the situation to transport gold through various means, including hiding it in personal belongings and even using drones to transport it across borders.
Customs officials have been on high alert for gold smuggling at airports across the country, and have been successful in intercepting many attempts. However, the lucrative nature of the business means that smugglers are always looking for new ways to transport gold undetected.
