Hyderabad: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials on Thursday arrested two passengers who allegedly smuggled gold in pasta form worth about 44.80 lakh at Hyderabad Airport.
CISF Sub-Inspector Rajender Singh on Thursday, around 0400 hours, during the security investigation before the start of the Security Hold (SHA) at Hyderabad Airport, noticed the abnormal walking style of a passenger as he approached .
The sub-inspector allegedly searched the passenger. During a pat-down search, two packets of yellow paste (which appears to be gold) weighing approximately 760 grams were found hidden in shoes.
The passenger was identified as Mohammed Maroof, on the IndiGo Airlines flight to Delhi.
Upon inquiry, he revealed that another passenger namely Mohammed Tarik also accompanied him. Immediately a search was carried out electronically and physically and the said passenger was also located at the airport area.
He was intercepted and inquired. During the investigation / search, a packet of yellow pasta of approximately 380 grams was also obtained from his possession.
When questioned, both passengers did not respond satisfactorily. Consequently, the matter was notified to senior officials of CISF and designated officials.
Upon arrival of the customs officers, both passengers were handed over to them for further action in the case along with three packets of yellow pasta (it looks like it was gold pasta) weighing approximately 1.14 kg.
Customs officers later confirmed that the recycled yellow paste was gold in sticky form and that they had registered a case against both passengers.
The total weight of the extracted gold from the paste is about 943.50 grams, worth about Rs 44,80 lakh.
Source: The Siasat Daily