Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 31: The officials of the Mangaluru Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Tuesday January 30 arrested a passenger at Mangaluru International Airport here for attempting to smuggle gold worth Rs 39 lac from Dubai.
The passenger has been identified as Ahamed Nabeel Gaffoor (21), a resident of Kasargod, who arrived from Dubai by SpiceJet flight no SG-60 at 6 pm on January 30.
Acting on credible intelligence, the DRI mounted surveillance at the Mangaluru airport. On arrival of the SpiceJet aircraft from Dubai, the said passenger Ahamed Nabeel Gaffoor was identified and intercepted right at the aircraft door and was escorted to customs arrival area and subjected to thorough checking. It was revealed that he was carrying a mobile like item in his front trouser pocket. It was also observed that the so-called mobile was heavier than usual and it was sealed from all the sides.
On interrogation, Ahamed Nabeel admitted that he had concealed 11 gold tola bars of foreign origin inside the mobile pouch. On opening the mobile pouch, it was found that 7 tola bars of gold of foreign origin (intact) and 4 tola bars of gold of foreign origin cut into 8 pieces (totally 15 pieces) were cleverly concealed inside the mobile phone cover(pouch) by using black/silver adhesive tapes in order to avoid detection.
The gold pieces weighed 1m282 grams in total and were found to be of 24 carat purity and their current market value was placed at around 39 lac. The contraband gold was later seized by the officers of DRI under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
The passenger Ahamed Nabeel Gaffoor was arrested for attempting to smuggle gold bars into the country.
Further investigation in the case is in progress.