Two passengers from Dubai arrested in India for gold smuggling attempt

By Linh Le   January 2, 2024 | 09:14 pm PT
Two passengers traveling from Dubai were detained by the customs department at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Uttar Pradesh, India, for their attempt to smuggle 3.5 kilograms of gold into the country.
A person holds gold jewelry at a shop in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

A person holds gold jewelry. Illustration photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

The incident, which took place on Dec. 30, 2023, is considered the largest gold seizure of the year at this airport, as per officials at Lucknow airport, The Hindustan Times reported.

The seized gold was split into two portions. One half was concealed in a coffee machine within the luggage of one passenger. The remaining half was in a paste form and secreted inside the rectum of the second passenger.

The total weight of the confiscated gold was about 3.497 kilograms, with an estimated value of 20 million rupees (approximately US$240,015).

The two individuals, who had arrived on an Air India Express flight from Dubai, are now under investigation, with more information anticipated as the case unfolds.

Local reports, as mentioned by the South China Morning Post, indicate that since 2018, the Indian customs department has arrested over 100 individuals and confiscated approximately 225 kilograms of gold from smugglers.

 
 
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