IGIA staffer, 1 more held for gold smuggling

A housekeeping staff working at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) was held on Sunday, along with another man, for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold worth over Rs 14 lakh. Both the men were apprehended by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and were later handed over to the Customs, along with the four gold bars seized from them.

According to senior officers, around 3.20 am, the CISF surveillance and intelligence staff at the Delhi airport spotted a cleaner of the Lion manpower, who had a pass for the apron , entering the international pier through arrival de-boarding gate number six from the apron side.

"On a suspicion, the CISF surveillance team followed the staff member. They saw that the suspect was signalling to a passenger waiting inside the airport's smoking room. Further, the team noticed that the said passenger handed over a cigarette packet to the airport ground staff member, after which he rushed towards a pier and the passenger moved towards the arrival immigrations," a senior CISF officer said.

Immediately, both of them were intercepted by the CISF team. Upon searching, four gold bars weighing approximately 466 g were recovered from the staff member, who was identified as Rajnish Pal. Later, the passenger was identified as Shahnawaz, an Indian citizen, who had arrived from Abu Dhabi, the officer said.

Senior officers said the Customs was informed and both the accused, along with the seized gold, were handed over to them for further legal action.