In a significant crackdown, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a major smuggling syndicate, apprehending six individuals and confiscating a high-value consignment of premium smartphones and foreign cosmetics at Mumbai's international airport. The operation, executed late on Tuesday, prevented illicit goods worth approximately Rs 4 crore from entering the Indian market.
Specific Intel Leads to Airport Arrests
Acting on precise intelligence, DRI officials kept a close watch at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. They intercepted a group of seven persons who had just arrived on a flight from Dubai. The information indicated that these individuals were acting as carriers, transporting large commercial quantities of contraband.
The detained persons were later identified as Arman Qureshi, Gulfam Ahmed, Amaan Bukhari, Mustafa Chauhan, Abdul Chauhan, and Imran Hussain. A thorough examination of their baggage revealed the smuggled goods, confirming the agency's intelligence.
Massive Haul of iPhones and Pakistani Cosmetics
The search operation yielded a staggering recovery. Officials seized a total of 186 high-end Apple iPhones with an estimated market value of Rs 3.38 crores. Alongside the electronics, the authorities found 2,532 beauty creams of Pakistani origin, valued at around Rs 9.26 lakhs.
None of the arrested individuals could produce any legal documents to justify the possession or import of these goods. This failure established reasonable grounds for the DRI to believe the items were smuggled into India, violating the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Syndicate Operation and Financial Implications
During subsequent interrogation, the accused admitted to their roles as paid carriers for a larger smuggling network. They were acting in lieu of monetary consideration as part of an organized syndicate that exploits passenger routes to bypass customs duties.
Officials highlighted the substantial revenue loss to the exchequer. Had the seized goods been imported through legitimate channels, they would have attracted an effective duty rate of 35% under the baggage rules, amounting to a total duty of roughly Rs 1.18 crores. The case has been booked under Section 111 of the Customs Act, 1962, which deals with goods liable for confiscation.
This bust underscores the continued vigilance of Indian agencies against smuggling rackets that seek to undermine the economy and import regulations, particularly targeting high-demand electronic items and restricted foreign products.
