12 Tola Gold bars worth Rs 47 Lakh Seized At MIA
Mangaluru: Acting on credible intelligence that one International passenger by name Nizar Khadar Mulleria, aged about 32 years of Mulleria, Kasargod, Kerala arriving by Spicejet Flight No. SG-60 from Dubai to Mangalore at around 18:15 hrs on 20 September 2018 would attempt to smuggle gold into the country in connivance with one of the staff of Mangalore International Airport, the officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Regional Unit, Mangalore, mounted surveillance at the Mangalore International Airport.
On arrival of the Aircraft from Dubai, the said passenger Nizar Khadar Mulleria was identified and intercepted right at the Aircraft door and was escorted to the Customs Arrival area and subjected to thorough checking. On checking his hand baggage, a brown coloured valet bag was found. On thorough check of the said valet bag, a black coloured mobile phone cover (pouch) was found. It was observed that the said so called mobile was heavier than usual.
On opening the said mobile cover(pouch) it was found that 12 tola bars of gold of foreign origin (intact) and 1 sheet of gold of foreign origin were cleverly concealed inside the said mobile phone cover(pouch) by using black/silver adhesive tapes in order to avoid detection. The said gold pieces weighed 1515.270 grams in total and were found to be of 24 Karat purity and their current market value was placed at around 47 lakhs. The contraband gold was later seized by the officers of DRI under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The passenger Nizar Khadar Mulleria was arrested for attempting to smuggle gold bars into the country.
Further, working on the Intelligence one official working at the Mangalore International Airport was also rounded up for interrogation and crucial evidences regarding abetment of smuggling of contraband gold was recovered. The search of the official’s residence led to recovery and seizure of Rs 25 lakhs in cash which was purportedly received for abetting the illegal activity. The said officer was also arrested under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962.
Further Investigation in the matter is under progress.
Mangalore Airport Authority should ensure a thorough background check of all Malayalees that are employed in all the agencies at the airport from Housekeeping to Airplane servicing contractors. A high percentage of gold smuggling is reported to be carried out by these Malayalee Carriers, obviously for reputed gold dealers. Who else can afford to make such high-value purchases? By now, Mangalore Airport Authority must have profited a ton of gold from all the smuggling operations carried out by these Malayalees from this particular hub. What encourages Carriers to smuggle gold from Dubai to Mangalore Airport is the real question. Obviously,… Read more »