Custom officials seize over 8 kg gold worth Rs 4 cr, five iPhones at Mumbai airport

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Custom officials seized over 8 kg of gold valued at approximately Rs 4 crore and five iPhones across eight different cases at Mumbai airport on Wednesday, reported news agency ANI.

According to the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-3, gold was concealed in the frame of the check-in bag, box of crockery, clothes worn, hand bag.

Earlier, on February 18-24, Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-3 seized over 7.64 kg of gold valued at 4.09 crore in seven different cases at Mumbai airport, reported ANI.

Gold was smuggled using the retail staff of a mobile company; concealed in hot plate, bicycle, aircraft seat, corner piping of bag, check-in bag, reported ANI.

Earlier, customs officials at Mumbai Airport have intercepted a significant amount of gold totalling 6.33 kilograms, valued at 3.49 crore rupees, in five separate cases involving Indian nationals.

The gold was concealed by the accused individuals, hidden within various items including their clothing, mobile chargers, purses, hair dryers, and even the corner piping of check-in bags, newswire PTI reported.

This seizure follows another notable interception by Mumbai Customs officials at Guwahati Railway Station, where 1997.96 grams of smuggled gold, comprising 12 bars and 5 coins, worth Rs 1.28 crore, were confiscated from a single individual.

The seized items were concealed inside the waistline of the trousers worn by the accused, according to the customs officials.

In another case, an international narcotics cartel link has emerged with the seizure of a staggering 1,700 kgs of mephedrone, commonly known as 'Meow Meow', valued around Rs 3,500 crore, with the Pune police saying some consignments have earlier been shipped to London via a courier firm, ingeniously concealed in ready-to-eat food packets, reported PTI.

The Police seized the cache from Pune and multiple sites in Delhi and eight people have been arrested so far, even as investigators are looking at forward and backward linkages of this drug haul, reported PTI.

"We have successfully unveiled the national and international dimensions of this case. Our teams are diligently working to dismantle the supply chain associated with this operation," Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said, reported PTI.

He said during recent operations, Pune Police teams seized 720 kgs of mephedrone in Pune, with a substantial portion recovered from a manufacturing unit situated in Kurkumbh MIDC area on the outskirts of the city, reported PTI.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)