Meal supplying firm staffers held for smuggling gold
In yet another case of involvement of insiders in gold smuggling, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of airport customs on Wednesday arrested four persons, including two employees of a leading in-flight meal supplying company, for allegedly smuggling gold worth over Rs1.65 crore.
In yet another case of involvement of insiders in gold smuggling, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of airport customs on Wednesday arrested four persons, including two employees of a leading in-flight meal supplying company, for allegedly smuggling gold worth over Rs1.65 crore.
The case was busted by the AIU officials, when Abdul Razak Shaikh and Siraj Mohammed Sayed — both employees of Sky Gourmet Flight kitchen — were about to attempt a series of removals from an arriving aircraft on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
The investigators seized 6.79 kg of gold bars from four different Jet Airways flights which had arrived from different parts of West Asia. "In all cases, gold was concealed beneath the seat cushion and seat numbers were sent to the employees via WhatsApp," said AIU assistant commissioner Kiran Kumar.
"The duo confessed to their involvement in about 30 previous cases," said AIU additional commissioner Milind Lanjewar.
The interrogation of the duo led to the whereabouts of the receiver of the consignment. He has been identified as Vijay Tamhanekar.
The investigation led AIU to another receiver of the consignment, Shahabuddin CA, who was held near Andheri railway station. All the four arrested persons were produced in court and remanded in judicial custody.