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Crew member of Singapore airlines held at Delhi airport for smuggling gold
The crew member was to allegedly hand over the gold chain and bangle to an agent at a prominent hotel in Delhi for which he was supposed to get 500 Singapore dollars (around INR 25,000).
The Customs at Delhi airport has arrested a crew member of the Singapore airlines for smuggling gold worth R 31.25 lakh. The crew member had allegedly tried to smuggle gold on January 8, and this was his second attempt, officials said.
The crew member was to allegedly hand over the gold chain and bangle to an agent at a prominent hotel in Delhi for which he was supposed to get 500 Singapore dollars (around INR 25,000).
“On Monday, officers of customs intercepted a crew member of Singapore airlines, who arrived from Singapore at T3 by flight SQ 402. During his personal search, 1,048 grams of gold was recovered. He has been arrested and gold has been seized as per the Customs Act,” a press release issued by the Customs said.
A customs officer said that gold was in the form of chain and bangles and the accused was wearing it under his uniform to avoid detection.
“He admitted that he was smuggling gold for the second time. During the last visit, he carried the same amount of gold using the same modus operandi,” said the officer.
Customs said that the crew member was stopped for random check and during questioning, he admitted his role in smuggling. He had met an agent in Singapore, who gave him gold and his job was to pass it on to another agent in Delhi.
“Singapore airlines confirms that a member of its cabin crew operating on Singapore Airlines flight SQ402 on 22 January 2018 was detained by Delhi customs authorities. Singapore Airlines will provide full co-operation to the investigating authorities. We are unable to provide details of the crew member concerned due to confidentiality reasons,” said a spokesperson for the airlines.
