Smuggling racket busted: 186 iPhones, Pakistani cosmetics seized at Mumbai airport; 6 arrested

MUMBAI: The Directorate Revenue of Intelligence (DRI) have busted a major smuggling racket with the arrest of a gang of six and seized 186 high end iphones and Pakistani cosmetic worth Rs 4 crore at the Mumbai international airport on late Tuesday.On the specific intelligence the DRI detained a group of 7 persons who arrived from Dubai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai.As the information was accurate that these group would be carrying huge quantities of iphones and cosmetics in commercial quantities, the officials detained them. The seven persons arrested were later identified as Arman Qureshis, Gulfam Ahmed, Amaan Bukhari, Mustafa Chauhan, Abdul Chauhan and Imran Hussain. The search of their baggage resulted in recovery of 186 iphones worth Rs 3.38 crores, 2,532 Pakistani origin Cosmetic beauty creams worth Rs 9.26 lakhs. Officials said that none of the aforementioned persons was able to produce any legal document showing the legitimate possession of the aforesaid recovered goods. Hence, under the reasonable belief that the aforesaid goods are liable to confiscation under Section 111 of the Customs Act, 1962, as the same were smuggled into India in contravention of the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. During interrogations they admitted that they were acting as carriers in lieu of monetary consideration and were part of a syndicate. Officials said that if the seized goods were imported through a legitimate route, a 35% effective rate of baggage and overall duty of Rs 1.18 crores would have been attracted.