Pune airport – Dubai return passenger caught for 349.93 gm gold smuggling

Pune : NP NEWS 24 ONLINE – The officers of customs at Pune international airport intercepted nabbed a passenger Shaikh Tarique Mahmood, on his arrival by Spice Jet flight from Dubai on Thursday early morning.

The personal search of the passenger resulted in the recovery of two gold biscuits cut in four pieces, four small pieces of gold with oxidized plating, two heavy gold coins and one gold key chain ring having rhodium plating. The said gold were found to be concealed in form of counterfeit currency inside the wallet of the passenger. The gold key chain ring was recovered from a souvenir key chain item and was made to look like a gift article.

“The search conducted by the officers resulted in the recovery of 349.93 grams gold valued at Rs 11.07 lakhs. The gold recovered from the above passenger was seized under the reasonable belief that the same was attempted to be smuggled in India and hence liable for confiscation under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. In his statement recorded under section 108 of the Customs Act, 1962, the passenger has admitted possession, carriage, concealment and recovery of the said goods under seizure. Further investigation is under progress”, deputy commissioner Harshal Mete stated in a press release.

The Customs dept team included deputy commissioner KR Rama Rao, Mete, and superintendents Sudha Iyer, Sanjay Somkuwar, Vinita Pusdekar, inspector Rajendra Meena, Shivaji Valu, Deshraj Meena, head havaldar DV Bagade and SS Nimbalkar.