Wednesday, Apr 24, 2024 | Last Update : 06:33 PM IST
Gold worth Rs 74L seized at airport
The flier had arrived from Dubai and was found to be in possession of 2kg gold paste.
Mumbai: The customs officials at Pune airport seized gold valued at Rs 74.41 lakh from a flier on Saturday. The flier had arrived from Dubai and was found to be in possession of 2kg gold paste.
The accused was identified as Zahid Zuhair Pendkar, a Raigad resident, who was found to be suspicious based on which he was frisk checked and the customs officials found the gold paste in his possession.
“The smuggled item weighed 2,196 grams. He arrived in a private carrier at around 4.15 am at the airport’s international terminal,” revealed a customs officer.
The investigators are probing his travel history and if he smuggled gold in the past. The officials are also trying to ascertain if he is associated with any racket and has accomplices.
A case has been filed against Zahid as per the provisions of the Customs Act and he has been remanded to custody for further interrogation.
In April, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs arrested a flier for smuggling gold dust worth Rs 32 lakh from Dubai. The flier was smuggling wet gold dust on his rectum, AIU officials said.
