HYDERABAD: Was the woman passenger caught by the Directorate Revenue Intelligence (DRI) lured by a gang in Abu Dhabi to smuggle gold to the city? Investigators, who questioned the woman passenger in connection with gold smuggling by her recently, are understood to have obtained leads on the smuggling racket.
It has come to light that gangs are operating from Singapore, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Malaysia and some other countries. DRI officials suspect that some city-based persons are part of these gangs.
The woman, who brought 1.50-kilo gold hidden in the motor of a mixer-grinder, was nabbed at the Samshabad airport here recently.
She was allegedly lured by gang members at the Abu Dhabi airport by offering huge commission. The grinder was to be handed over to a person at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) after her arrival.
“We want to know whether the woman was lured with commission for handing over the mixer by convincing that it was just a gift or whether she knew that gold was concealed inside the mixer,” an official said.
“The gang members maintain good contacts with Hyderabad-bound passengers, some employees of airlines and airport staff, and indulge in smuggling gold bars,” investigators said.
DRI officials are likely to write to the airport authorities to submit the footage of CCTV cameras to identify the intended receiver of the smuggled gold.