Gold smugglers arrested at Hyderabad airport

The Custom officials seized 2.5 kg of gold and 30,000 US dollars in two separate incidents at the Hyderabad Airport. The accused have been detained and further investigation is underway.

Hyderabad: In a joint operation, the customs department and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Wednesday detained five persons for trying to smuggle in foreign-origin gold from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The officials seized 2.5 kgs of gold worth Rs 1.15 crore from passengers who arrived from Dubai.

The passengers arrived from Dubai on flight FZ-8779 and the gold was concealed in mixer-grinder motors and cutting appliances kept in check-in baggage.

READ: Customs seize Rs 1.3 cr foreign currency at Hyderabad airport

"The five passengers have been detained and further investigation is underway," an official said.

In a separate incident, CISF sleuths held a Dubai-bound passenger for carrying 30,000 US dollars.

READ: Woman held for smuggling gold worth lakhs

The male passenger was scheduled to board flydubai Flight no FZ8776. The currency, whose value in Indian currency is Rs 21,48,000, was seized under the Customs Act 1962.

On March 24, the Customs officials seized Rs 1.3 crore foreign currency from a passenger at Hyderabad airport. The passenger was apprehended by the customs officials at the terminal building.

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