NEW DELHI: A Turkmenistan national was arrested at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport for trying to smuggle in gold jewellery worth Rs 20 lakh.
The incident took place on Saturday evening when the woman alighted from Turkmenistan Airlines flight T5 535. Upon inspection of her baggage, Customs officials found jewellery items worth Rs 20.4 lakh hidden in it. “A total of 11 gold chains, three gold bracelets and one gold hair pin were recovered during the inspection. The total value of the gold is over Rs 20 lakh and the accused seemed to be a regular carrier,” said an official.
Customs sleuths told TOI that they had received a tip-off earlier in the day about a passenger, matching the woman’s description, who would be carrying smuggled gold items. As soon as the woman passed the green channel, officials took her for a routine baggage and personal check, during which the smuggled items were recovered.
