In three separate cases, customs sleuths seized about 11.4 kg of gold worth nearly Rs 3 crore and arrested three alleged smugglers, including two foreign nationals from Mumbai international airport here today.
With this recovery, a total 107 kg of gold has been seized by the customs this month.
According to an official, a lady passenger Khalou Asmae, a Moroccan national, landed today from Dubai, on an Emirates flight.
Eight gold bars, totally weighing eight kilograms and valued at Rs 2.08 crore were recovered from the burkha-clad woman. The yellow metal was concealed inside her pant pocket, the official said, adding that Asmae was arrested later.
After a preliminary probe, her friend and co-passenger, who is an Egyptian national, was found to be owners of the gold. The Egyptian, whose name was not revealed, was also arrested, the customs official said.
In the second case, an Indian passenger called Shajahan Hajimiya, who arrived from Sharjah on an Air Arabia flight, was found with seven gold bars, totally weighing 816 grams and valued at Rs 21.29 lakh. The gold was concealed in the pant pocket of the accused, who was arrested.
In the third case, passenger Huzaifa and his four family members, who arrived from Dubai on an Air India flight, were found with crude gold chains totally weighing 2.5 kg and valued at Rs 67.24 lakh. Since each person of the family members carried a gold chain valuing less than Rs 20 lakh, they were let off after the gold was seized.
As per rules, a passenger trying to smuggle in gold valued more than Rs 20 lakh is arrested.
In all three case, the accused tried to smuggle gold in a bid to sell it here, for a higher price.
