Afghan woman among two held for gold smuggling at airport

An Afghan woman was among two persons arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle in gold valued at about Rs 73 lakh at the international airport here.
The woman was intercepted by customs officials after her arrival here from Dubai on Saturday. On detailed examination of her baggage and personal search, gold weighing 1.6 kg was recovered from a fabric waistband worn by her, a press release issued today by the customs said.
The passenger, who hails from Kabul, was arrested and the gold valued at about Rs 44.16 lakh was seized, it said.
In another incident, a man who had also come from Dubai was arrested after he was allegedly found smuggling gold valued at about Rs 28.97 lakh. The passenger, who hails from Thane in Maharashtra, was also intercepted on the same day.

In his personal and baggage search, nine pieces of gold bars weighing about a kilogram concealed in the voltage converter (transformer) carried by him were recovered, the release said. The accused has been arrested.
The value of the gold seized in both the cases is Rs 73.13 lakh, it said.