Bengaluru
Customs officials in Bengaluru made a significant discovery when they uncovered a one-kilogram gold bar concealed in a black pouch inside an aircraft’s washroom. The incident took place on a flight arriving from Abu Dhabi, as reported in an official statement released on Wednesday. The statement indicated, On October 24, 2023, officers of Air Customs, Bengaluru conducted a search on flight EY 238 arriving from Abu Dhabi. During the search, gold paste wrapped in a black pouch was discovered hidden in the aircraft’s washroom. A total of 1331.66 grams of gold, valued at Rs 80,21,920 lakh, was recovered. In a series of recent operations, Bengaluru Air Customs officers had previously intercepted passengers arriving from various international destinations. On October 22, they apprehended four passengers arriving from Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, and Colombo, confiscating approximately three kilograms of gold valued at Rs 1.76 crore. Subsequently, two passengers were arrested, and further investigations were underway. On October 21, Bengaluru Air Customs had seized 1.133 kilograms of gold worth Rs 67.57 lakh, along with an iPhone 14 Pro Max valued at Rs 1.49 lakh, from three passengers. These operations demonstrate the ongoing efforts to curb illegal gold smuggling and ensure the proper declaration of valuable items entering the country through Bengaluru’s international airport.
