2 foreign nationals caught at Mumbai international airport smuggling gold worth Rs2 crore

Officials recovered over 7.3 kg of gold from Yoguy Rafidison, a Republic of Madagascar national and Rajeev Shantilal, who holds a French passport

Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials at Mumbai’s international airport arrested two gold smugglers — one a Frenchman and the other from Madagascar — early on Sunday for allegedly trying to smuggle in gold from Dubai worth Rs2.11 crore.

The two suspects were arrested on the basis of profiling after they cleared the customs channel and were proceeding towards the exit. (HT FILE)

The suspects have been identified as Yoguy Rafidison, a Republic of Madagascar national and Rajeev Shantilal who holds a French passport. The two had arrived from Dubai on a Jet Airways flight.

According to the AIU, the two suspects were arrested on the basis of profiling after they cleared the customs channel and were proceeding towards the exit.

A personal search resulted in recovery over 7.3 kg of gold with foreign marking, and valued at more than Rs2.11 crore, according to the AIU.

“The officials have video-recorded the personal search where the accused had concealed the gold bars under their clothes using a belt,” said an AIU source.

AIU investigators are now looking into who their possible associates are and also scrutinising their phone call records.