Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport Customs on Tuesday arrested a 46-year-old man for allegedly smuggling gold worth Rs 1.15 crore from Dubai. The passenger had cleverly concealed the gold bars inside the shoes worn by him.
According to the Customs sources, a passenger R.F. Ganchi was intercepted by Customs officers on Monday after he arrived from Dubai to Mumbai, after he crossed the Green Channel.
The Customs officials asked Ganchi whether he was carrying any dutiable goods, contraband or gold in his baggage or in person, to which he replied in negative. The personal search of Ganchi was conducted which led to recovery of 12 pieces of Gold bars having gross and net weight 1212 grams and valued at Rs 1.15 crore.
"The passenger had concealed the gold bars inside the shoes worn by him. The said goods were seized under the reasonable belief that the same was being attempted to be smuggled within India in a clandestine manner and hence was liable for confiscation under the provisions of the Customs Act," said a Customs official.
The Customs officials on Tuesday recorded voluntary statement of Ganchi wherein he admitted that Gold bars was being attempted to be smuggled by him without getting detected by the Custom Authorities and by evading payment of applicable duty.
"The investigation in this case is at the preliminary stage and further investigation is required to break the bigger nexus involved in the smuggling activities," the official said.
