At least 14 Kenyans are among 18 people being held in India after they were arrested at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport while they were allegedly trying to smuggle gold and diamonds.
Reports indicate that the 18 individuals were arrested by Customs officers on Tuesday and Wednesday this week with processed gold and diamonds.
Addressing the press moments after the arrests, the Customs officers noted that during a routine frisking and scanning procedure Tuesday, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officers found suspicious objects inside the laptop of one of the passengers.
The passenger who was planning to flow to Bangkok, Thailand, from Idian was arrested on Tuesday, February 1,1 and handed over to the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at the airport for further interrogation.
The Kozhikode Airport in Kerala, India.
Photo
India Times
During the interrogation, the Customs officials allegedly recovered 2147.20 carats of diamond valued at Ksh73 million from the passenger, who was later allegedly contravening the Customs Act.
The incident forced the Customs officers to heighten the search at the airport, which hours later led to the officers arresting 14 Kenyans who had arrived at the airport from Nairobi.
Upon interrogation, which took place on Wednesday, February 12, the officers recovered 22-carat melted gold bars and jewellery weighing 2,741 grams valued at Ksh27.5 million.
According to the Indian detectives, the Kenyan passengers had reportedly concealed the gold bars and jewellery in their undergarments and the pockets of their clothes.
Besides the Ksh27 million gold and jewellery, the officers also recovered unclaimed 22-carat melted gold bars weighing 2,406 grams worth Ksh24 million lying on the airport’s floor.
On the same day, the customs officials also arrested three passengers who arrived from Dubai with 24-carat crude gold rhodium-plated rings and buttons weighing 775 grams valued at Ksh9 million.
The officers revealed that the three had concealed the possession in their belt buckles and trolley bags, which the suspects carried stealthily to avoid being noticed.
The latest incident highlights the growing trend of gold smuggling into India, with some Kenyans getting involved in the menace, which has now prompted the Asian nation to impose stricter measures.
India’s Special Units Police officers during a training session.
Photo
Strategic Front