Excise officials in Kerala arrested two Mumbai residents after seizing 8.69 kg of gold worth around Rs 8 crore during an inspection at the Walayar check post in Palakkad
Representational Image. File Pic
Two Mumbai residents were arrested with over 8 kg of gold worth around Rs 8 crore during a check in Kerala’s Palakkad, reported the PTI.
The arrested persons have been identified as Sankith Ajay Jain (28) and Hidesh Shivram Selanki (23).
The excise officials, while briefing about the incident, highlighted that the duo were intercepted during an inspection of a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus from Coimbatore bound for Kottarakkara at the Walayar check post, as reported by news agency PTI.
A search of their baggage revealed gold ornaments weighing 8.69 kg, wrapped in polythene. During the interrogation, the accused claimed that they had travelled from Mumbai to deliver the ornaments to a jewellery shop in Thrissur.
However, the excise officials found that the duo were travelling without valid documents. While the accused were later handed over to the enforcement wing of the state GST department for further action. Further investigation is still underway.
Hydroponic weed and gold worth over Rs 11 crore seized at Mumbai Airport
In a different operation, officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–3, seized hydroponic weed and gold worth over Rs 11 crore in multiple cases this week.
During the three-day operation, customs officers seized 8.467 kg of hydroponic weed from a passenger arriving from Bangkok. Furthermore, they also recovered 2.270 kg of 24-carat gold dust, along with 230 grams of 24-carat gold jewellery, from different passengers at Mumbai Airport.
In one case, based on spot checks and the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling, a Bangladesh national travelling from Male to Dubai via Mumbai was apprehended while allegedly handing over four oval-shaped packets of 24-carat gold dust concealed in wax, weighing 1,460 grams and valued at Rs 1.86 crore, to a staff member of a ground handling agency (BWFS).
The passenger was travelling on IndiGo flights 6E-1132 (Tuesday) and 6E-1451 (Wednesday). Both the passenger and the BWFS staff member were arrested under Section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962, customs officers said.
Hydroponic weed seizure
In a separate case, based on specific intelligence, customs officers recovered 8.467 kg of suspected hydroponic weed from a passenger arriving from Bangkok. The contraband is estimated to be worth Rs 8.467 crore in the illicit market.
The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, officers said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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