The air intelligence unit (AIU) of the airport customs arrested a pilot with Jet Airways early on Thursday while he was trying to smuggle a sound system worth Rs. 32 lakh that he had got from Belgium. The 40-year-old pilot, Arshad Fakruddin, was later released on bail of Rs. 2 lakh.
According to an official, Fakruddin was intercepted by an AIU batch headed by Sameer Wankhede, deputy commissioner of the customs department, after the pilot came out of the green channel with other cabin crew.
He had flown Jet Airways flight 9W227 from Brussels in Belgium and had landed in Mumbai around 1am on Thursday.
Fakruddin was carrying a box containing the music system when was stopped by officials. On being questioned, he told custom officials that he was carrying a home-theatre system worth Rs. 60,000.
“Fakruddin was carrying a sound system of Metronome Technologie worth Rs. 32 lakh. He accepted that he was trying to evade duty, was arrested and subsequently released on bail of Rs. 2 lakh,” said an official from the customs department.
The official added that as per rules, the cabin crew is required to manifest valuables that they carry with themselves at the originating point instead of the destination.
“The cabin crew is not allowed to carry duty-free valuables worth more than Rs. 600,” said the official.
Customs commissioner PM Saleem confirmed that Fakruddin had been arrested and later released on bail.