Flight attendant among four held in smuggling cases

In two separate cases, the Customs department has seized gold and diamonds collectively worth Rs 1.80 crore from four persons, including a flight attendant, at Mumbai International airport premises and arrested them, Customs officials said.
The arrests have been made since last night, they said.
Officers of Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted a Jet Airways flight attendant Abdul Hafiz Khatri who landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport after operating the flight between Dubai and Mumbai, said APS Suri, Commissioner of the Customs.
"Four kgs of gold valued at Rs 95.3 lakh and 145 carat diamonds worth Rs 11.61 lakh were recovered from him. His accomplice Mohammed Afzal Qureshi, who was supposed to receive the consignment, was also apprehended from outside the terminal," Suri said.

The duo were arrested and they confessed to have committed similar illegal acts earlier as well.
In another case, two air passengers Sagar Dave and Rasik Lal were intercepted after they walked through green channel at the airport. Three kilograms of gold valued at Rs 74.04 lakh was recovered from them. The passengers, who landed here from Kenya, were arrested.
According to Customs rules, only those not carrying dutiable goods can walk through the green channel.