Diamonds worth ₹6.46 crore found in noodles at Mumbai airport, passenger held

An Indian national travelling from Mumbai to Bangkok was intercepted & was found smuggling the diamonds concealed in packets of noodles inside his trolley bag.

Published on: Apr 23, 2024, 15:23:04 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The customs department seized diamonds concealed in packets of noodles and gold hidden in body parts and baggage of passengers from the Mumbai airport recently. The goods were collectively valued at ₹6.46 crore.

Detailing the incident, an official told PTI that an Indian national travelling from Mumbai to Bangkok was intercepted and was found smuggling the diamonds concealed in packets of noodles inside his trolley bag.

READ | Gold being smuggled into Mumbai in compound form for better concealment

Meanwhile, a foreign national travelling from Colombo to Mumbai was found carrying gold bars and a cut piece, with a net weight of 321 grams, concealed inside her undergarments, he added.

At least 10 Indian nationals - two each travelling from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and one each from Bahrain, Doha, Riyadh, Muscat, Bangkok and Singapore, were also intercepted and found carrying 6.199 kg gold, valued at ₹4.04 crore. Three of them were subsequently arrested.

READ | Two sisters arrested for smuggling gold worth ₹1.17 cr

In a similar incident, a 38-year-old employee of a fast-food restaurant, Pandian, was arrested by the Air Intelligence Unit of the Mumbai customs for allegedly helping in taking out smuggled gold from the Mumbai airport and handing it over to the members of the smuggling racket outside for a commission. He was found hiding 6 oval capsules of gold in his belt valued around ₹1.86 crore, the PTI report added.

“His role was to receive gold at the departure area and hand it over to the members of the racket outside. He was supposed to hand over the consignment at Bandra T junction to Noorul Hasan J and Kalandar Azzarudeen,” said the officials.

READ | CBI coordinates return of gold smuggler wanted by NIA

Noorul and Kalandar who stayed at Hotel Star in Masjid Bunder told officials that they worked for Anthony from Mohammad Ali Road. They received ₹3 lakh per delivery, out of which ₹1.8 lakh was paid to Pandian for aiding in the smuggling.

(With PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.