In one of the biggest bullion hauls by city authorities, the regional unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), along with Pune customs authorities recovered more than 10 kg smuggled gold worth ₹3 crore largely in the form of 86 gold biscuits on Thursday at the Pune International Airport in Lohegaon.
“The smuggled gold, weighing 10.175 kilograms was valued at Rs. 3,09,34,675 and was seized by the DRI during a check carried out after the clearance of passengers of a Spice Jet flight, SG52, arriving from Dubai. The bullion mainly comprised of biscuits and gold in other forms. They have been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962,” said Manish Dudhpuri, Assistant Commissioner of Pune Customs, speaking to The Hindu.
Mr. Dudhpuri said that the gold biscuits were concealed in mobile phone covers and pouches in a dustbin in the gents’ lavatory of the airport’s immigration hall.