Ahmedabad: A Hyderabad woman’s attempt to pull off a glittering masquerade fell flat at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport on Tuesday, after customs officials caught her draped in undeclared gold worth nearly Rs 1 crore.The flier, arriving on a flight from Abu Dhabi, had layered an assortment of heavy gold jewellery — bangles, necklaces, chains, anklets, earrings, and rings — beneath her garments. What she could not wear, she stuffed into her purse.However, the air intelligence unit (AIU) officials had already flagged her through advanced passenger profiling before she even stepped off the aircraft.
A thorough search revealed a treasure trove: 710.9g of 22-karat gold and another 18.1g of 18-karat ornaments, totalling 729g
A thorough search revealed a treasure trove: 710.9g of 22-karat gold and another 18.1g of 18-karat ornaments, totalling 729g. The seized haul carries a market value of Rs 98.8 lakh her garments, the customs department said in an official release.Customs authorities issued a stern reminder that importing “the yellow metal” from Gulf countries beyond permissible duty-free limits requires a mandatory declaration at the Red Channel, even if the passenger is wearing it as personal jewellery. Investigators are now grilling the flier to determine if the gold was for personal consumption or if she was operating as a mule for a larger syndicate.
