BENGALURU: Sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Bengaluru, have seized over 9 kg of smuggled gold in three different cases in a record 5 hours at the city’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Six Indian nationals, including a woman, have been arrested.
According to informed sources, DRI officials recovered 3.75kg of foreign origin (FO) gold bar on February 1 after rummaging a flight from Sharjah.
“The contraband was concealed inside bags in the luggage cabin above the seats,” added the sources.
In the second case, DRI officials intercepted two passengers arriving from Kuala Lumpur on a Malaysia Airlines flight.
“Gold in paste form weighing 2,854 g worth Rs 1.55 crore was found concealed in their socks. The two passengers have been arrested,” added sources.
In the third case, DRI officials intercepted four passengers who landed from Kuala Lumpur on the same Malaysia Airlines flight and recovered gold in paste form weighing 2,632 g worth Rs 1.42 crore. The gold was concealed in their underwear.
Besides gold, 3,510 sticks of e-cigarettes worth Rs 73.7 lakh were also seized from their baggage. The DRI and Customs officials conducted the third operation.
All six passengers have been arrested under the Customs Act.