Five including four Turkmenistani held for smuggling gold by customs officials

Five passengers, including four Turkmenistan, have been arrested by the customs officials for smuggling gold worth Rs 2 crore at Delhi airport. The accused were arrested in separate incidents happened during the past week.

Four Turkmenistani passengers, including three women, were intercepted after their arrival at Delhi in different flights on Wednesday. Two of them had come from Dubai and the rest from Turkmenistan, a statement issued by the customs said.

A detailed personal and baggage search of these four passengers resulted in the recovery of gold items like chains, rings, bracelets and pendants among others weighing about 4.4 kg, it said. These Turkmenistan nationals were arrested and the gold was seized.

In another case, an Indian was intercepted after his arrival from Hong Kong on Tuesday. His baggage and the personal search resulted in the recovery of three gold bars, collectively weighing three kilograms.

The gold bars were seized and the passenger was arrested. The customs officials have seized 7.4 kg of gold worth Rs two crore in these cases, a customs official said.