New Delhi, 05 August (H.S.): The Customs Department has busted a gold smuggling case at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, detaining two female passengers and recovering approximately one kilogram of gold from their possession.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the department said that the two passengers, who arrived in New Delhi from Istanbul on flight number 6E-12, were intercepted after crossing the Customs Green Channel. The action was taken following passenger profiling based on the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS).

Although an X-ray examination of their baggage did not reveal any suspicious items, both passengers triggered alerts for metal presence on their bodies while passing through the Door Frame Metal Detector.

During a detailed personal search conducted thereafter, customs officials recovered nearly one kilogram of gold. The gold had been concealed by covering it with an outer layer of silver and was designed in the form of traditional armlets (bajuband). The jewellery-like items were worn around the upper arms of both women in a manner that made them appear as ordinary ornaments.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar