Mumbai Customs seizes over 8 kg gold and iPhones in multiple cases at airport

Mumbai Airport Customs seizes over 8 kg of gold and iPhones in multiple cases. Pic/Prasun Choudhari via customs officials

Mumbai Customs (Customs Zone - III) has intercepted various attempts to smuggle gold and iPhones into the country at Mumbai Airport. The seizures, spread across eight different cases, amounted to over 8 kilograms of gold, valued at approximately Rs 4 crore, along with five iPhones.

According to Additional Commissioner Sarika Shah of Customs Zone - III, one of the cases involved a foreign national traveling from Nairobi to Mumbai via Kenya Airways Flight KQ 202. The individual was found with concealed gold items in their inner garments, including 24 KT gold bars, melted gold pieces, and assorted gold jewellery, collectively weighing 2842.010 grams.

In another instance, she said, three Indian nationals traveling from Dubai to Mumbai via Indigo Flight 6E 1456 were intercepted, resulting in the recovery of 22 KT gold jewellery and three iPhones. The gold jewellery was concealed on their bodies, while the iPhones were hidden in their trousers.

Another customs officials while giving details said a foreign national traveling from Muscat to Mumbai via Oman Air Flight WY 203 was caught with 24 KT gold dust concealed in pouches, while an Indian national traveling from Dubai to Mumbai via Indigo Airlines Flight 6E 1456 was found with gold strip and gold dust hidden in check-in luggage.

"An Indian National, travelling from Dubai to Mumbai vide Indigo Airlines Flight 6E 1456 was intercepted and 14 KT Gold Strip, 24 KT Gold dust collectively weighing 649.00 grams (net) were recovered. Gold strip was found concealed in the frame of check-in luggage and Gold dust was concealed in the box of crockery," he said.

An insider source from Customs Zone - III disclosed additional cases, including another instance involving a foreign national from Nairobi carrying 22 KT melted gold bars, and two Indian nationals from Dubai concealing gold jewellery and iPhones.

The source said, "In other case, two Indian nationals, travelling from Dubai to Mumbai vide Indigo Flight 6E 1456 were intercepted and 22 KT Gold Jewellery(4) collectively weighing 601.00 grams (net) and 2 iPhones (15 Pro Max 256 GB) were recovered. Gold jewellery was found concealed on the body of the passengers and iPhones were found concealed in the trousers."

Additionally, he said, a foreign national traveling from Singapore to Mumbai via Singapore Airlines Flight SQ 422 was intercepted with crude gold bangles hidden in clothes, while another Indian national on the same flight was found with similar concealed gold bangles.

"An Indian National, travelling from Singapore to Mumbai vide Singapore Airlines Flight SQ 422 was intercepted and 22 KT Crude Gold Bangles (4) weighing 274.190 grams (net) was found concealed in the clothes worn by the passenger," the source revealed.