Chinese among six held for smuggling gold at Delhi airport

Six people, including a Chinese national, have been arrested by customs officials at the airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle 3.1 kg gold worth nearly Rs one crore into the country, an official statement said today.

The accused were held in separate incidents of gold smuggling reported over the past three days at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).

Four Indians, including two women, were intercepted after their arrival from Bangkok yesterday, the statement said.

A detailed personal and baggage search resulted in recovery of multiple gold rods, crudely given the shape of bangles and collectively weighing 1.4 kgs, from them, it said, adding that the value of the seized gold was ascertained to be Rs 43.6 lakh.

In another case, an Indian man was intercepted after his arrival from Dubai on Saturday. He was carrying 855 grams gold, valued at Rs 25.46 lakh, concealed in the pockets of his jeans.

The accused was arrested and the gold was seized, the statement said.

A Chinese national, who arrived from Kunming on Friday, was held for illegally carrying two gold pendants and belt buckles each, weighing 863 grams and worth Rs 25.63 lakh, it said.

He had coated the gold items with white metal polish apparently to dodge the customs authorities, it said.