DRI nabs two at airport with diamonds worth ₹5.7 crore hidden in body capsules

Two passengers were arrested at Mumbai airport for attempting to smuggle 1,624 carats of diamonds worth ₹5.7 crore concealed inside their bodies.

MUMBAI: Two passengers were arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) after officials allegedly recovered 1,624 carats of smuggled diamonds worth ₹5. 7 crore concealed inside capsules hidden in their bodies.

DRI nabs two at airport with diamonds worth ₹5.7 crore hidden in body capsules

The accused were allegedly attempting to fly to Bangkok, Thailand, with the diamonds.

Acting on specific intelligence, officers of DRI’s Mumbai unit intercepted the accused duo at the airport and subjected them to examination after suspecting an attempt to smuggle out valuables from the country.

Officials conducted detailed checks, during which they allegedly discovered that the accused had concealed two capsules inside their bodies. The capsules were allegedly later purged and found to contain natural and laboratory-grown diamonds.

The passengers are suspected to be linked to an international money-laundering syndicate involved in illegal export of diamonds, and officials said the diamonds had been deliberately concealed for illegal export to Thailand.

The diamonds were seized and both passengers arrested under provisions of the Customs Act. DRI officials said further investigation is underway to identify the larger network behind the smuggling operation.