DRI cracks 'selfie' modus operandi of gold smugglers

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials cracked a unique modus-operandi of a gang of smugglers after arresting a 26-year-old Karnataka resident, Mohammed Fawaz Kabadsha, on Wednesday for allegedly smuggling gold into the city from Dubai. The conduit was instructed by his Dubai-based accomplice to click a selfie at one of the luggage belts at the Mumbai airport.

The accomplice told the smuggler to WhatsApp the selfie to him so that the receiver could identify the conduit and meeting spot, said a DRI official. However, the carrier's phone malfunctioned and he could not send the photograph. The accused is a mule for a Bengaluru-based gold smuggling syndicate with a large number of conduits working for them, said sources.

After being intercepted, Kabadsha told officials that two packets containing 42 gold bars worth Rs 1.31 crore were given to him on Wednesday at Dubai airport by a member of the syndicate. "Kabadsha waited for a while, hoping that his accomplice would send a receiver to collect the consignment. When no one came to meet Kabadsha, he decided to clear the goods through customs without paying duty," the official said. Also, Customs Air Intelligence Unit officials on Wednesday arrested Rabeekhan Abdullah at the international airport while he was departing for Kuala Lumpur with 2,680 grams of methamphetamine and 2,073 grams of ephedrine worth Rs5 crore.

(With inputs from Vallabh Ozarkar)