Flier held with 124 iPhones worth Rs43 lakh

Customs officials also arrested a woman, from outside the airport, who had come to pick up the consignment

The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs arrested Mohammad Yunusmiya while attempting to sneak in 124 iPhones in the wee hours of Saturday. The consignment comprised latest (67) and previous generation (57) handsets. The officials also arrested a woman, from outside the airport, who had come to pick up the consignment worth Rs43 lakh.

The AIU officials arrested Mohammad Yunusmiya with the iPhone consignment in the wee hours of Saturday. (HT photo)

“During the baggage scanning, the contents were found suspicious following which we resorted to a detailed scrutiny. The passenger had concealed the iPhones in a plastic sack that was neatly stuffed inside his luggage,” said a high-ranking officer.

AIU sources said the woman, who had come to collect the handsets, had called Yunusmiya minutes before he was stopped. Officials learnt about his accomplice after checking his call log. They then asked him to contact the woman and ask her to meet at a specific spot outside the airport, following which she was nabbed .

“The passenger is a carrier, while the woman had come from Bharuch in Gujarat to collect the consignment. Further investigation is on to find out wether whether the two are part of a syndicate or not,” the officer said.

Both the accused were produced in court and were granted bail. AUI officials said Yunusmiya holds an Indian passport issued from Capetown and had arrived from South Africa via Addis Ababa flight.

Since September, AIU has upped it vigilance at the Mumbai airport following a sudden spike in the smuggling of iPhone 7 and 7 plus after their launch. “The new phones are in demand, but we are probing why the older generation phones are being smuggled as well, and if any anti-social elements are involved in it,” the officer said.

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