6.5 kgs worth ₹9 crore: 8 passengers held at Delhi Airport for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai

Customs officials recovered 6.5kg of gold concealed under flight seats and arrested eight passengers who allegedly smuggled it from Dubai to Delhi.

Customs officials arrested eight passengers for allegedly smuggling around 6.5kg of gold worth nearly ₹9 crore from Dubai to Delhi, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

According to customs officials, the recovered chains had been sprayed with silver and black-coloured material, to alter their appearance. (Representative Image)

According to officials, the customs department received a tip-off regarding the gold on Emirates flight EK 514, which arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport from Dubai on September 21. A search of the flight was carried out, and gold was recovered in the form of chains concealed in three small bags placed under two flight seats, officials said. According to customs officials, the recovered chains had been sprayed with silver and black-coloured material, to alter their appearance.

“Our officers conducted a thorough search of the aircraft after it arrived from Dubai. The recovery of the gold led to the identification and subsequent arrest of eight passengers, including a woman who had travelled on the same flight,” a customs official said.

Investigators said the arrested passengers allegedly followed a distinct modus operandi to transport gold from Dubai to India. The group frequently travelled to Dubai purportedly to attend exhibitions and would allegedly bring gold back by wearing it as chains or other jewellery. Investigators said they are now examining the travel history of those arrested, their links with other individuals and the source and intended destination of the seized gold. All accused were produced before the Patiala House court and sent to judicial custody for 14 days.