Major gold smuggling racket busted at Mangaluru Airport; 2 held

Mangaluru, Feb 9: A major gold smuggling racket that lured international air passengers to smuggle gold using ingenious means to hoodwink scanning machines of Customs at Mangaluru International Airport, has been busted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

Based on tip off that a carrier had landed at MIA from Dubai, DRI sleuths rushed to Mahavir (Pumpwell) Circle. Even as they waited, a Maruti Suzuki Alto Car came in at high speed around 9.45am and stopped next to IOC petrol bunk.

Another person waiting nearby, apparently arrival of this car went towards the vehicle and there was some negotiations were between the person in the vehicle and the other man who was waiting for him.

DRI sleuths on strong suspicion surrounded and intercepted the duo. Preliminary enquiries revealed that the person who arrived in the car happened to be an international passenger Haris Panalam Mohammed Kunhi, who had just arrived from Dubai. After coming out of MIA, Haris had directly come to Pumpwell circle. Even the baggage tags were intact on the carton boxes which were kept on the rear seat of the car.

The other person waiting for Haris was Faisal. Since they had no reasonable explanation about business being transacted by them at the said place, they were brought to DRI office for further enquiry.

On examination of contents of baggage of Haris, it was found that gold was concealed inside a portable wireless amplifier. Detailed examination and testing resulted in the recovery and seizure of 698.2 grams of 24 carat gold plates of foreign origin valued at Rs 20,24,780.

It was found that the smugglers in an attempt to avoid detection during Customs check at MIA had melted and molded the gold into thin plates and then cut them into the shapes of letter 'E' and 'I'. These 'E' and 'I' shaped gold plates were then coated with mercury and tightly packed to fit into the transformer (coil) portion of the amplifier, Vinayak Bhat said.

During the course of investigation, Haris and Faisal admitted to the offence of smuggling gold and receiving the same. Haris told the investigators he agreed to carry the portable amplifier having gold plates concealed inside it for the lure of money and free air tickets from Dubai to Mangaluru. After getting cleared from the airport, he had instructions to hand it over to Faisal who would be waiting near Pumpwell circle, as per the prior arrangement.

Faisal admitted he was involved in similar smuggling operations on earlier occasions and used to earn commission for his job of taking delivery of the smuggled gold and carrying it neighbouring Kasargod where it would once again switch hands and through another agent reach the kingpin of the racket. The duo were arrested under section 104 of the Customs Act 1962 and produced before CJM, Mangaluru who remanded them to ten days of judicial custody.

Though, the arrests have put a temporary brake on smuggling operations, they are likely to revive after few days of lull unless the key members of the gang are apprehended, Vinayak Bhat said adding all out efforts are being made and the investigation has been intensified to reach the top rung operators of the smuggling racket. It may be added here that Customs officials recently too had seized gold that was attempted to be smuggled in a similar manner.