Smugglers train to carry gold in rectum

Smugglers, who were arrested earlier this week for carrying gold bars inside their body, had apparently undergone training for six months on how to conceal items inside their rectum. Faizan Haidar reports.

Smugglers, who were arrested earlier this week for carrying gold bars inside their body, had apparently undergone training for six months on how to conceal items inside their rectum.

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The new modus operandi, somewhat in desperation, has been adopted by the smugglers after the customs department officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport launched a major crackdown against people carrying gold.

Last week, a suspected passenger was detained at the airport but despite sustained interrogation, the man refused to confess. During screening, officials found something near his lower abdomen. But the passenger refused to admit that the object concealed was gold. It was after that the officers threatened to remove the objects by surgery did he agree to remove the gold bars.

“It was surprising to us as to how he removed the six gold bars from inside his body easily. For over 24 hours he had kept it inside his body. Putting items inside the body is not only dangerous but requires training. Though they have never been caught earlier, we suspect that they had smuggled items earlier too,” a customs department official said requesting anonymity.

Official said during training, the smugglers are taught how to conceal smaller items to get used to carrying bigger ones. The training is usually done in presence of a doctor,” he said.The official added that the smugglers were also trained on how to sit for hours in order to be ready for their journey. “Basically, they carry out dummy runs before actually carrying out the job,” he said.

“They wrap the gold bars using cello tape. They then put nearly 250gm butter over it and then put it in their rectums. They are advised not to eat anything during the journey,” the official added.

Customs official also said the people they nab were mere carriers used by smugglers who are paid Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 for every successful trip.