Biggest gold haul at RGIA

Hyderabad: In the biggest haul of smuggled gold in the country, the Customs Department sleuths seized over 13 kg of gold worth over Rs 3.75 crore from two passengers in separate cases at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here on Wednesday. The Air Intelligence Wing (AIU) of Customs Department intercepted a passenger identified as Fatima Shaheen, at the exit gate of the customs check area. Fatima, belonging to the city, arrived here by a Qatar Airways flight no. QR 500 on around 3 am.

After a thorough check-up, about 2.7 kg of gold was found concealed in specially stitched pockets worn on the person; burqa was worn top of it to hoodwink the officials. Similarly, another passenger who came from Maharashtra, brought 10 kg gold, Customs officials said. Customs officials said an investigation was on to ascertain whether any international gang was behind the smuggling. Though Dubai has been the desired hub of smugglers, with the customs sleuths profiling frequent fliers from the Gulf countries, the smugglers changed their modus operandi and began bringing in gold from Australia via Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, almost at Dubai price. The entire operation was done under the guidance of R Manohar, the Additional Commissioner, EVN Reddy, the Deputy Commissioner, and A Dhileeban, the Assistant Commissioner.