Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 17: Gold worth around Rs 1.35 crore was recovered from two passengers at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport here on Monday, officials said.

Around 900 grams of gold was seized during a raid on passengers arriving on a Bangkok-Kolkata flight, according to airport authorities. Two passengers have been arrested in connection with the recovery.

Officers of the NSCBI Airport police station are questioning the arrested passengers as part of an investigation into the alleged gold smuggling operation.

According to police sources, the two passengers arrived in Kolkata from Bangkok on Monday. Acting on prior information received from a confidential source, police kept them under surveillance after their arrival at the airport.

The passengers were subsequently stopped and questioned on suspicion. During interrogation, they allegedly admitted to carrying gold.

The seized gold weighs around 900 grams and is preliminarily estimated to be 24-carat. Its market value is approximately Rs 1.35 crore, police said.

Investigators suspect that an inter-state gold smuggling network may be behind the operation. They are trying to establish the source of the gold, its intended destination and the identities of others who may have been involved.

The seizure has created a stir at the airport, particularly in view of another major recovery earlier this month.

On August 6, police recovered gold and diamond jewellery worth around Rs 1 crore from NSCBI Airport. The jewellery included pieces studded with rubies and emeralds and was recovered from domestic cargo. One person was arrested in connection with that case.

Following the latest incident, security has been further tightened at the city airport and surveillance of passengers has been intensified.