Duo held with 24.5kg smuggled gold at SVPI airport

AHMEDABAD: The air intelligence unit (AIU) of the customs department detained an employee of a private ground handling agency at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) for helping a passenger smuggle 24.5kg gold out of the city airport, in the wee hours of Tuesday. The gold was valued at Rs 8.2 crore.
According to a press statement issued by the office of the Principal Commissioner of Customs, Ahmedabad, the employee had admitted to having received gold bars from a passenger who arrived at SVPI Airport from Dubai by flight FZ-0437. Acting on a tip-off, customs officials detained the ground handler who had a valid airport entry permit. Upon personal search of the employee, gold bars were found and seized by the customs department officials.
The passenger, after handling the gold to the ground handling agency employee, exited the city airport through the green channel and was waiting outside the terminal building. He was called back to the airport and as the ground handling agency employee identified him, the duo was detained by the customs department officials.
Further probe in the matter revealed that the said passenger was supposed to deliver the consignment of smuggled gold to a certain person in Ahmedabad. The customs department officials have already identified the mastermind behind the operation; however, he is currently absconding. “Efforts are being made to nab all the persons involved in the case,” the statement further explained.