Gold receiver using alias nabbed in smuggling case

MUMBAI:

Customs

officials accompanied three persons whom they caught in gold smuggling case at airport, to a mall in Kalbadevi area to arrest their handler red-handed on Friday. Officials decided to take a chance as they wanted to burst entire network.

On late Thursday, Air

Intelligence Unit

(AIU) of the customs has intercepted a Singapore based couple, Vickneswaran and

Kelly

, on suspicion after they arrived at

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

. Officials found two gold chain and two kadas collectively weighting 2,400 grams worth RS 66 lakh with them. The couple confessed their involvement in the gold smuggling and told the official that one person, Rahul

Gaikwad

, was waiting for them outside the airport.

Officials convinced the couple to help them to catch Gaikwad from the airport premises. After inquiring the three officials came to known that Gaikwad was supposed to take the couple to Kalbadevi bases shop owner, Mayur Mehta, who was a receiver.

Officials convinced the three to help them to nab Mehta. Officials accompanied the three to the mall where Mehta had a small shop. The officials were roaming around the shop and according to the instruction Gaikwad handed over the gold to Mehta and collected his commission (Rs 50,000) after which the officials rushed to the shop and arrested Mehta red-handed. Customs booked all the four accused in gold smuggling cases and produced them before a court. The court remanded them into judicial custody.

Officials learnt that Mehta is into gold smuggling business. An accused whom the customs had booked earlier in a separate gold smuggling case had identity Mehta as

Raja Bhai

. Mehta was using alias to confused gold carriers. Officials said that in July they had arrested two Indian-origin foreign nationals for smuggling after they arrived from Singapore concealing 4kg gold jewellery worth Rs 1.2 crore in their undergarments.

They also arrested a person waiting outside the airport to receive them and collect the gold. The gold was supposed to be handed over to Raja Bhai, but officials unable to trace him in the case. After Friday arrest, the officials come to know that Mayur Mehta and Raja bhai is the same person.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.