Customs at Mumbai airport seize gold bars worth over Rs70 lakhs concealed inside fans and radio of a passenger

Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of airport customs in Mumbai on Saturday held a passenger for allegedly trying to smuggle gold bars worth over Rs70 lakhs into the country by concealing it inside batteries of electric fans and radios. The accused have been charged under various sections of the Custom Act.

According to the AIU officials the incident was reported on Saturday early morning after  flight EK 504 landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) from Dubai. The accused identified as Muhammed Kunnapara, a native of Kozhikode began moving from the green channel after alighting.

However, based on suspicions, the AIU officials lead by Additional Commissioner (AIU) Milind Lanjewar caught the accused and on inspection of his baggage found 22 gold bars, weighing around 116 grams. The bars were concealed inside the battery section of the electric fan and radio which he brought along with him.

The officials later sent the seized material for valuation and found it to be of worth over Rs70 lakhs. "Further investigation is on in the case" said an official.