In a clever attempt to smuggle gold, two passengers were intercepted at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport after customs officials discovered 396 grams of gold concealed inside chocolate packets. The seizure took place at the green channel on the basis of spot profiling, according to an official statement released on Thursday.
Details of the Incident
The passengers, who had arrived from Dubai, were stopped by customs officers who suspected something amiss. Upon inspection, the gold was found carefully hidden within the wrappers of chocolate packets. The total value of the seized gold is estimated to be around Rs 20 lakh.
Method of Concealment
The gold was cleverly disguised to avoid detection. The smugglers had melted the gold and shaped it into thin sheets, which were then inserted into the chocolate wrappers. The packets appeared ordinary from the outside, making the concealment difficult to spot without thorough examination.
Action Taken
The two passengers have been detained for questioning, and further investigations are underway to determine if they were part of a larger smuggling network. The gold has been seized under the Customs Act, and the passengers may face legal action for attempting to evade customs duties.
This incident highlights the ongoing efforts of customs officials to curb gold smuggling at Indian airports. In recent months, there have been several instances of gold being smuggled in creative ways, including inside shoes, electronic items, and even body cavities.
