Amritsar, 02 July (H.S.): Customs officials and the Directorate of Revenue

Intelligence (DRI) have seized gold worth over ₹1 crore from three passengers,

including a woman, at Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport in Amritsar.

The passengers were allegedly trying to smuggle gold into India by hiding it in

paste form, shoes, bangles and a chain.

According to officials, the recovered gold has been

seized and separate cases have been registered against the accused under

various sections of the Customs Act, 1962. The authorities have also started an

investigation to find out whether an international gold smuggling network is

behind these cases.

In the first case, a passenger who arrived from Sharjah

on flight number 6E1428 was stopped on suspicion by DRI Amritsar and Customs

officials. During checking, X-ray scanning and personal search, officials

recovered 174 grams of gold in paste form from his possession. After

extraction, the net weight of the gold was found to be 150.04 grams, valued at

₹22,05,588. The gold was reportedly concealed inside the passenger’s shoes.

In the second case, Customs officials intercepted a

woman passenger who arrived from Sharjah on flight number IX-138. During

examination and X-ray scanning, 114 grams of gold in paste form was recovered

from her. After processing, the net weight of the gold was found to be 90.21

grams, valued at ₹13,26,087.

In the third case, a male passenger who arrived in

Amritsar from Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur on flight number MH-118 was stopped by

Customs officials. During checking, two 24-carat gold bangles and one gold

chain were recovered from his possession. The total weight of the seized gold

was 484 grams, valued at ₹70,66,400.

The agencies are now investigating whether the seized gold was meant to be

supplied through illegal networks, bullion markets or hawala channels in

Punjab.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH