The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs averted several smuggling attempts and seized gold, saffron and drugs worth over Rs six crore from the city airport in the past three days, officials said today.
According to the officials, total 11 cases were registered in connection with the smuggling bids and five persons were arrested.
In one of the cases, the AIU intercepted Amit Bhostekar, Bangkok Airlines senior security officer and his personal search resulted in the recovery of three pieces of gold bars collectively weighing 2.6 kg valued at Rs 78 lakh, a Customs official said.
The officials said that he retrieved the gold bars from a seat pocket of a flight.
During follow up, another passenger Mohamed Suhail, who travelled by the same flight, was intercepted in arrival hall and he admitted the ownership and non-declaration of the goods under seizure, following which both were arrested, the official added.
In another case, Victor Van Niekerk holding South African passport and departing to Addis Ababa by Ethiopian Airlines flight was intercepted on suspicion. His personal search resulted in the recovery of 12 packets of white crystalline powder purported to be Methaqualone, totally weighing 11918 grams and approximately valued at Rs 4 crore, the official said.
Victor had concealed the drugs inside the blue coloured carbon packet beneath the round neck T-shirts in his check-in baggage. He was later arrested.
Victor owns a restaurant named Pantry Cafe in Cape Town, South Africa.
The AIU sleuths also intercepted two passengers, Samina Altaf Shaikh and Dinesh Hundraj Chellani, who had concealed gold bars in their rectums.
Among other cases, a professional footballer, who smuggled saffron, was also intercepted. He had come from Dubai after participating in Champions League football match. The saffron was valued at Rs 10.84 lakh, the official said.
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