Gold worth Rs 53 lakh recovered from aircraft lavatory

Pune: Officials of Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Pune Customs seized 14 gold biscuit weighing 1,633 grams valued at Rs 52.99 lakh from the rear lavatory of SpiceJet flight number SG 52, which arrived from Dubai on Sunday at 4.30 am at Pune airport.

“The gold was recovered during rummaging of the aircraft from the rear lavatory and was concealed behind the cavity of the wash basin. It was wrapped in transparent adhesive tape. All the 14 gold biscuits are of foreign origin, marked and engraved as international precious metal refiners bearing serial marks,” said a statement released by the Customs office, Pune.

Superintendent (Customs) Sudhanshu Khaire and Inspector Jayakumar Ramachandran during rummaging detected the gold biscuits. 

The gold has been seized by Customs officers on a reasonable belief that the gold was being smuggled in India.

The entire seizure operation was carried out under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Pune Customs Mahesh Patil. 

Officers involved in seizure and investigation included Superintendents Madhav Palinitkar, Vinita Pusdekar, Inspectors Balasaheb Hagawane, Ghanashyam Joshi and Ashwini Deshmukh and Hawaldar Sandeep Bhandari and AS Pawale.

Further investigation as per Customs Act 1962 is under process.