Ahmedabad: The offer sounded simple: wear some gold jewellery during the flight home, and save Rs 10,000 on the tour package. But what seemed like an easy bargain turned into a customs case after nine passengers landed in Ahmedabad from Abu Dhabi. Customs officials intercepted the group before they could leave the arrival area without declaring the excess gold, valued at Rs 1.1 crore, or paying the applicable duty.Officials say the travellers were genuine tourists who had been recruited by a travel agent to bring in the gold. The gold was seized, and the agent from Mehsana, who was accompanying them, was arrested at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport.According to Ahmedabad customs, the air intelligence unit (AIU) acted on specific intelligence and intercepted the tour operator along with the passengers after their arrival from Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.Officials said the nine passengers were carrying 24-carat gold chains, pendants and beads weighing a total of 770.3 grams, valued at about Rs 1.1 crore. The ornaments had allegedly been handed to them by the tour operator before they boarded the flight to India.During questioning, the passengers told officials they had travelled to Abu Dhabi after paying around Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 each for the tour package. The agent allegedly assured them the arrangement was safe and promised either a refund or a discount of Rs 10,000 if they agreed to bring the gold into India.“The passengers were found carrying gold concealed in their pockets. Preliminary investigation indicated they were unaware of the legal implications and had acted at the tour operator’s behest,” a senior customs official said.After recording their statements, customs allowed the passengers to leave, as they were found prima facie to have played no active role in the smuggling attempt.The recovered gold was seized and the tour operator was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962.Sources said the accused was previously arrested in another gold smuggling case and had served time in jail.Officials said this is the second such case detected in the past six months. “In the earlier instance, too, an operator used a large number of tourists to smuggle in gold. People need to know that there is a limit to the gold they can bring in. They have to pay relevant duty and/or declare it officially. Failing to do so will attract hefty penalties,” said a senior official.BOXGold worth Rs 19.5L hidden in shirt collars, 2 heldTwo passengers arriving from Dubai were caught at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport on Wednesday after allegedly trying to smuggle in gold by concealing it inside their shirt collars. Acting on specific intelligence, officers of the air intelligence unit (AIU), Ahmedabad customs, intercepted the duo on arrival. During a detailed search, officials recovered gold paste hidden inside the collars. The paste was processed into 24-carat gold TT bars weighing 129.18 grams and valued at about Rs 19.5 lakh. The gold was seized under the Customs Act.
