Customs seize gold worth Rs 1 crore hidden in kitchen cookware at IGI Airport
PTC News Desk: Gold smugglers often use unusual methods to smuggle gold into the country despite timely detections by the customs department. A similar case of gold smuggling in a peculiar way has come to the fore.
A smuggler was caught allegedly bringing gold worth around Rs 1 crore by hiding it inside the lids of a non-stick kitchen set. However the efforts to tranport gold in an unusualy illegal way went down the drain as it could not go undetected.
Gold hidden inside cooking utensils
The smuggler had allegedly hidden 523 grams of gold inside three cookware lids. He had travelled from Riyadh to Delhi via Mumbai. More than half a kilogram of 24-carat gold was recovered from him.
The Customs Department took action at Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport.
15 pieces of gold worth around Rs 1 crore recovered
The passenger was thoroughly searched after an X-ray scan showed suspicious images. During the search, customs officials recovered 15 pieces of 24-carat gold cleverly hidden inside the solid portions of the cookware lids.
The total weight of the recovered gold was 523 grams.
Passenger detained based on intelligence inputs
Based on intelligence inputs and passenger profiling, customs officials detained the passenger, who was travelling on flight 6E-315. Further investigation is underway to determine who was behind the smuggling attempt and where the gold was meant to be delivered.
- With inputs from agencies
