5kg gold seized at RGIA; 2 held

Hyderabad: Over five kg of gold, which was allegedly being smuggled via the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Shamshabad, was seized on Wednesday by Customs officials and two passengers were arrested in this connection.

“The Air Intelligence Wing of Customs stopped some women passengers after their arrival by a flight from Jeddah. But two male passengers, namely Rahman and Mustafa, intervened saying they were tourists. However, based on suspicion, the two male passengers were questioned and as many as 48 gold bangles besides three bars collectively weighing 5.3 kg were seized from them,” a senior Customs official said.

“One Amin, who is the main accused, had given the gold bangles to 10 women passengers at Jeddah saying it was for his sister’s marriage in Hyderabad. On behalf of Amin, handlers Rahman and Mustafa were bringing the yellow metal for smuggling,” the official added.

The women passengers, aged between 70-80 years, were unaware about this racket. Rahman and Mustafa, who had collected the gold from them immediately after the flight arrived at RGIA airport, have been arrested.