Mangalore: 'Hide and seek' in aircraft - Accused smuggled in gold 30 times!

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Update: April 22

Mangalore, Apr 21: The accused who were caught smuggling gold by hiding it in international and domestic flights on Sunday April 21 revealed that they had used this method to smuggle in gold as many as 30 times.

The accused reportedly used different flights from the Gulf region, which arrive in Mangalore and other cities in the country and then take off to a destination within India. One of the accused would hide the gold under his seat in the aircraft after take-off from the Gulf, and on arrival here, his accomplice, posing as passenger in the same flight, would retrieve the gold during the journey to the domestic destination.

After earlier smuggling operations wherein gold was brought concealed in jars of oats and chocolates, this is seen as another innovative method used by smugglers.

Earlier Report

Mangalore: Gold hidden in aircraft - DRI busts major smuggling operation

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Apr 21: The officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Sunday April 21 busted a major operation wherein international and domestic flights were being used to smuggle gold into the country. One passenger was arrested in Mangalore Airport and two others in Mumbai.

The arrested has been identified as Meethala Kallulla Parambath Nazar of Kozhikode, Kerala, who arrived by Jet Airways flight 9W 531 from Dubai to Mangalore on Sunday morning.

Based on credible information, the DRI officers intercepted Nazar when he arrived at the Airport, and on interrogation, it was revealed that he had concealed 5 gold biscuits (about 500 grams) under his seat in the aircraft. When the flight landed in Mumbai later, another passenger by name Paivalike Ahamed Ali of Kasargod, was to recover it from under the seat. As there is no customs in domestic terminal, the gold would thus go unnoticed.

As soon as Nazar revealed the information, Air Intelligence Unit in Mumbai was alerted. The officers intercepted the passenger Paivalike Ahamad Ali who had retrieved the gold on prior arrangement and the same was seized at Mumbai.

It was revealed by them that they have operated from different airports in India and Dubai. By detecting this novel modus operandi of concealment in the aircraft and transiting by domestic flight, the DRI has busted a clever modus operandi.

Three of the gang members were arrested at Mangalore and Mumbai.

The officers of DRI have registered a case. Further investigation is under progress. This is the first such case detected by DRI, Mangalore wherein the gold was concealed in the Aircraft.