The Customs and the Central Excise Department have arrested six Indians for attempting to smuggle in gold at Goa airport in the last one and half months, a senior official said here today.
Customs and Central Excise Commissioner V P C Rao told mediapersons that the air intelligence wing of the department managed to crack down on the smuggling of gold, mostly from the middle east destinations such as Dubai and Sharjah, through the airport.
A total of five cases were registered, and 5.5 kg of gold with the international market value of Rs 1.4 crore was seized, he said.
The carriers used various method to sneak in the yellow metal, including hiding gold in mobile phones and shoes, he said.
The travellers bound for South Indian destinations were found to be involved in this kind of smuggling. In one case, the accused was from Mumbai.
Those arrested were only carriers while the kingpins were abroad, he added.
