Airport trolleys under the scanner after being used to smuggle gold

Airport baggage trolleys are turning out to be the tools for smugglers attempting to sneak gold from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) into the city.

Airport baggage trolleys are turning out to be the tools for smugglers attempting to sneak gold from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) into the city. Authorities have been keeping a close eye on the trolleys after they cracked down on two cases last week in which the instruments were being used to hide the precious metal.

Customs officials are now checking baggage trolleys for smuggled goods (HT Photo)

On Tuesday, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials intercepted Sheikh Zulfekar Ali after he arrived from Dubai on an Indian passport. Ali walked through the green channel and was exiting the airport when an alert officer detected something suspicious pasted to his trolley. Ali was intercepted and the trolley was checked which resulted in the recovery of four gold bars weighing 1,200gms, valued at ₹34 lakh.

“He had pasted the gold bars in the trolley using two sided transparent adhesive tape,” said a senior AIU officer. “The gold was attached to the metal grill of the basket.”

On Thursday, Sajid Shaikh an Indian passport-holder was intercepted after he cleared himself through the custom’s green channel. “Shaikh was proceeding towards the exit when he was stopped. Officers recovered 15 gold pieces worth ₹25.19 lakh,” said the officer. Shaikh had concealed the gold in a steel rod which he had attached to the frame of the baggage trolley.

Sources stated that smugglers are opting for newer, innovative techniques to dodge the customs authorities. “Smugglers opt to paste the gold to the trolleys after taking the luggage from the belt,” said the officer. “It is impossible to check each and every trolley due to the huge volume of passengers.” The air route has been a popular choice for smuggling syndicates that hire carriers by promising them good remuneration to carry the gold through customs.

In the past, authorities have found gold hidden in cotton bags kept inside the rear toilets of aircraft, life jacket pouches, tissue paper holders in aircraft toilets, below aircraft seats, immigration counter toilets and oxygen mask cavities of rear toilets in the aircraft among other locations.