Mumbai, Jan 19: Mumbai Airport Customs officers have busted an international gold smuggling syndicate and arrested a Bangladeshi national and a contractual staffer working inside the airport for their
alleged involvement in smuggling.
Officials have also seized gold worth Rs 2.15 crore from the accused persons and stated that, if left unchecked, the modus operandi—misusing staff working inside the airport and transit passengers—is likely to be exploited by smugglers on a larger scale and may also be used for smuggling other contraband items, which could be detrimental to national security.
Tip-off leads to surveillance
According to Customs, specific information was received that a transit passenger was involved in gold smuggling and was likely to hand over the contraband to a staff member working in the departure area of Mumbai Airport.
Acting on the input, a staff member, B.R. Sakpal, and a passenger, Rakibur Rahaman, a Bangladeshi national, were kept under discreet surveillance and subsequently apprehended at CSMIA on Sunday after the staff member was found collecting capsules from a washroom situated in the departure area of the airport.
Gold recovered from staff member
“After interception, four capsules of gold dust in wax, having a net weight of 1,590 grams and provisionally valued at Rs 2.15 crore, were recovered from Sakpal. The gold was handed over to him by Rakibur Rahaman, who had arrived in Mumbai from Dubai,” a Customs official said.
Admissions during interrogation
“In his statement, Rahaman admitted to the possession, carriage, recovery, smuggling and handling of the gold. He further admitted that the gold dust did not belong to him and that he had carried it at the behest of another person. Sakpal, in his statement, admitted to receiving the gold from the passenger for monetary consideration of Rs 30,000,” the official added.
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Investigation at preliminary stage
The official further said that the investigation in the case is at a preliminary stage and that the larger nexus, including the involvement of handlers, financiers and other conspirators, is yet to be unearthed.
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