Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 17 (HBTV): Acting on specific intelligence, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Mumbai intercepted a male passenger from Chad who arrived from Addis Ababa on Friday, May 16.

During a personal search, officials discovered foreign-origin gold bars concealed within the heels of his slippers. The total weight of the seized gold was 4,015 grams, valued at approximately INR 3.86 crore.

In his voluntary statement, the passenger admitted to hiding the gold to evade Customs detection. The DRI seized the smuggled gold and arrested the individual under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigations are underway.

In a similar incident in April, a male Indian passenger carrying two kilograms of gold bars worth approximately INR 1.91 crore was intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi.

According to officials, the passenger, who arrived from Dubai to Delhi on April 25 by flight number SG-6, was intercepted based on profiling at the green channel exit. X-ray screening of his baggage revealed suspicious images. Although the Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMD) did not raise any alarm, a detailed baggage check led to the recovery of 2 kilograms of gold bars.

The 40-year-old intercepted passenger, a resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan, was found carrying gold valued at approximately INR 1.91 crore.

Earlier on April 8, Customs officers at Delhi's IGI Airport intercepted an Iraqi national arriving from Baghdad and seized 1,203 grams of assorted yellow metal and silver-coated jewellery, suspected to be gold.

(ANI)