HYDERABAD: The GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) security officials, who were caught by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Shamshabad on Monday, were to fly to Bangkok for a leisure trip sponsored by gold smuggling kingpins on Tuesday or Wednesday. In fact, the two officials Bharat Reddy and Rami Naidu celebrated their last New Year in Dubai at the expense of the smugglers in lieu of the favours done.
According to investigators, they have ensured smooth passage of nearly 200 kg of gold through the security gates without any checking and have received rewards in return on a commission basis from gangsters based in Dubai. On Monday, the DRI officials seized 8 kg gold when the two officials were handing over the gold to the receiver at the parking lot of the airport.
The accused used to receive gold from passengers, near Aerobridge, much before the immigration counters and walk out of the terminal without any customs security checks. They used to move through areas having ‘restricted access’ by using the access card and their official positions. The photographs of the passenger and the accused officials were sent to each other by the smuggling kingpin through WhatsApp for easy identification and swift transactions. After receiving the gold, the duo would reach the parking lot and handover the same to the receiver.
DRI officials intercepted both the receiver and carrier of the gold along with the two accused officials on Monday. They were produced before court and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. The seized gold is worth `2.2 crore, said DRI officials.