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Palestinian held for smuggling Rs 3.5 crore gold
The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Mumbai Customs arrested a Palestinian student while he was trying to smuggle 10.5 kg of gold estimated to be worth Rs3.5 crore from Bahrain.
The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Mumbai Customs arrested a Palestinian student while he was trying to smuggle 10.5 kg of gold estimated to be worth Rs3.5 crore from Bahrain.
22 year-old Mohammad Al-Shaer Rana, a final year civil engineering student in Cairo, told officials that he carried the gold for a commission of $500 (Rs27,000), as he needed the money to finance his studies. The gold was found in the pockets of his jeans.
Commissioner of Customs, Airport, PM Saleem confirmed the seizure. Rana arrived by a Gulf Air flight at around 5.30 am. He was stopped by AIU officials when he crossed the green channel at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport without declaring the gold.
Rana was only carrying a handbag but after conducting a search, the officials found the hidden gold. Rana had 10 gold bars each weighing one kg and two gold biscuits weighing 250 grams, in his pockets.
On questioning, Rana told officials that he was asked to deliver the gold to a person in Colaba.
The AIU is searching for the local contact that was to collect the gold.
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