Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) thwarted a smuggling bid and arrested 18 female Sudan nationals and one Indian at the Chhatrapati Shivani Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, an official said.
A DRI official said gold worth over Rs 10 crores was seized from the arrested persons. Acting on a tip-off, the DRI officials laid a trap and intercepted 18 female Sudan nationals carrying the smuggled gold and one Indian, who flew down to Mumbai from the UAE.
The passengers came in three flights and were intercepted by the team of DRI officers at the airport, the official said. A thorough checking of the passengers resulted in the recovery of 16.36 kg gold in paste form, gold-cut pieces and jewellery. The combined value of the gold is about Rs 10.16 crores, the official added.
Further, during a follow-up search at related premises, 1.42 kg gold valued approximately at Rs Rs 85 lakh, along with foreign currency worth Rs 16 lakh and Indian currency of Rs 88 lakh, were also recovered, he added.