Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Apr 12: After finding over six kg of gold biscuits and diamond articles that were hidden inside the machine dispensing children's diapers located in the toilet in the immigration department of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in the city, officials of the air intelligence unit (AIU) of customs department arrested a person of Tamil Nadu origin, who allegedly had concealed these ornaments there. The arrested accused happens to be Muhammed Mohidin (42) from Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu. The value of the ornaments seized has been estimated at Rs 2.06 crore.
Muhammed had arrived at KIA in the early hours of Monday, April 10 by Thai Airways flight. The customs officials had got intelligence output in advance that a person reaching by Thai Airways flight was carrying huge quantity of ornaments. Based on this, the officials undertook verification of the toilet. During this verification, they found packets bound in carbon sheets and another bag covered by tapes in the diaper dispensing machine. Upon opening, they found six gold biscuits each weighing one kg, two pieces of solid gold, and high-value ornaments studded with gems and diamond.
The team immediately checked footage of CCTV and found that a middle-aged person was going in under suspicious circumstances. The person was stopped when moving out of the airport. During the questioning, they came to know of his identity. He was brought to immigration department and questioned, upon which he confessed having hidden the ornaments in the diaper machine, officials of AIU stated.
AIU officers said that the accused was to walk out of the airport after placing the ornaments inside the toilet. Staff and officers of the airport who knew him well were to carry the ornaments out of the airport where they were to entrust it to either Mohiddin or other persons named by him. Total weight of ornaments is 6.65 kg. During the questioning, the accused reportedly told the officials that he had left for Bangkok a few days back for buying things for his stall dealing in toys for the children.
As immigration officials are exempt from security check, there is a possibility that one or more among them would have joined hands with the smuggler. On March 12 this year, two airport staff were arrested by customers officials, accusing them of helping a person who had smuggled gold into India.