Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have spotted gold paste weighing 1,900 grams, which could be converted into pure gold of 1,269.85 grams, from a commuter at the Rajamahendravaram airport on September 14. During the preliminary inquiry, the officials found that the passenger was entrusted the job of retrieving the gold paste during the domestic run of the flight and the gold paste was smuggled from Colombo and concealed in the aircraft by his associate on its international run from Colombo to Madurai.
According to a press release issued by the DRI, the officials intercepted a passenger who arrived by SpiceJet flight from Hyderabad at the arrival hall and during the examination they found that the passenger was carrying gold paste concealed inside the innerwear. The passenger admitted that the gold was smuggled into the country and he did not have any documents to prove the licit purchase/import of the said gold. He further admitted that the bid was to avoid custom checks at the international airport. The value of the gold paste was estimated as ₹39.73 lakh and it was seized as per the provisions of the Customs Act 1962. A case had been registered and the investigation is in progress, the press release said.