Two women arrested for trying to smuggle gold worth Rs 26.4 lakh

In separate cases, two female foreigners have been arrested from the international airport in Mumbai for allegedly trying to smuggle in 987.48 grams of gold valued at Rs 26.4 lakh from Iran and Sri Lanka, a senior Customs official said on Saturday. The duo -- Farahnaz Gholamhossein Dahmardeh Ghalehnoo of Iran and Samsiya Mahammooddu lebbee a Sri Lankan—was intercepted on suspicion at Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport on Friday when they were found with yellow metal, said the official of Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs.

According to Customs, passenger Farahnaz Gholamhossein, holding an Iranian passport, arrived on an Iran air flight and cleared herself through a Green Channel. Only those passengers who have no goods to declare can pass through the green channel, the official added. As she arrived at 2B arrival hall, she was intercepted on suspicion and examination of her hand baggage resulted in recovery of assorted gold jewellery weighing 399.78 grams and valued at Rs.10.69 lakh. The gold was concealed in a bundle of Iranian breads and in cavity pocket of a jacket in her hand.

The gold was seized and she was subsequently arrested, he added. In the second case, passenger Samsiya Mahammooddu lebbee, holding Sri Lankan passport, arrived on a Sri Lankan airlines flight from Colombo yesterday and was intercepted near Exit Gate. She was found in possession of 587.7 grams of gold jewellery valued at about Rs 15.71 lacs, the official said adding that she was subsequently arrested under relevant sections of the Customs Act for smuggling the yellow metal.