Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Customs detained a woman doctor at Ahmedabad airport on 24th August for allegedly concealing a 24-carat heavy gold chain under her high-neck sweater while travelling from Sharjah.
After the initial investigation, the woman was identified as a 31-year-old doctor and a resident of Bhavnagar, Gujarat. She was travelling from Sharjah on an Air Arabia flight no. G9-418 and was arrested at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport. A 500 g gold chain was seized from her during a routine check on passengers who arrived from Sharjah to Ahmedabad, on the same flight.
The Airport Intelligence Unit had intercepted the woman while profiling and checking other passengers.
According to the reports, the Ahmedabad customs officers found the woman suspicious during the checking and hence stopped her for a thorough inquiry. The investigation initially started with getting personal information about the woman and her identity and then gradually turned into a frisk check.
The airport intelligence unit found out that the woman doctor had a 499.540gms of gold chain tucked inside her high-neck sweater, forming a complete concealment.
After the Ahmedabad customs gold seizure took place, the gold was sent for weighing and testing. Upon testing, it was concluded that the necklace was 24-carat gold, with an approximate worth of Rs 83 Lakh.
Customs officers confiscated the gold that the woman doctor was carrying from Sharjah to Ahmedabad.
The woman doctor was arrested at Ahmedabad airport for gold smuggling, under the Customs Act. The officials said that she was later released on bail after completing other legal procedures, and the gold was recovered by the Ahmedabad customs department.
To further investigate the gold smuggling at Ahmedabad airport, the customs department has started a detailed investigation to find out where the woman acquired the gold from and who she was delivering it to in India.
The officers are trying to obtain information on whether she was operating as an individual or if a group is involved behind the gold smuggling at Ahmedabad airport and other places in the country.
There have been continued efforts by customs officials to diminish such smuggling crimes in the country, so the gold chain seizure at Ahmedabad airport comes as an unexpected development to the officials who are continuously trying to learn new methods to identify smugglers in international airports.
Airport Intelligence Unit as well as the customs officers are involved in the investigation regarding the source of gold, the intended recipient, and the travel history of the woman doctor from Bhavnagar.