Mumbai: Three Bangladeshi nationals, in connivance with an airport staffer, tried to smuggle 3kg of gold in the form of dust worth Rs 2.21 crore. They were arrested by the Customs at Mumbai airport.
On specific intelligence, the Air Intelligence Unit of Customs kept a watch on the departure area at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport when they apprehended two transit passengers involved in smuggling. Initially, they intercepted airport staffer Hashel Singade, who was working at a store situated in the departure hall. During questioning, he admitted to receiving two bags from three transit passengers — Saiful Islam and Suzad Hossain Chowdhary.
With the help of Singade, the officials arrested Mohammed Chowdhary, Saiful Islam, and Sazad Hossain. On opening the bag handed over to Singade, the agency found 2,965 grams of gold dust valued at Rs 2.21 crore. All four were booked under the Customs Act and produced before the local court, which remanded them to judicial custody.