Mumbai Airport Customs Arrest 28-Year-Old Iranian Woman For Smuggling Gold Worth ₹3.27 Crore From Dubai

Mumbai: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs have arrested an Iranian woman for allegedly smuggling gold worth Rs 3.27 crore. The woman had purchased said gold from Dubai and was planning to sell the same in Indian market.

According to the Customs sources, on the basis of spot profiling, 28-year-old Iranian national M. Razini arriving from Dubai to Mumbai on Wednesday was intercepted after she crossed the Green Channel and on asked whether she was carrying any dutiable goods, contraband or gold in her baggage or in person, to which she replied in negative.

"Not satisfied with her answer, personal search of Razini was conducted which led to recovery of transparent plastic pouch containing yellow coloured material concealed in her support belt around her waist. The government approved valuer was called to assay the yellow coloured material and he certified it to be gold dust having net weight 3600 grams provisionally valued at Rs. 3.27 crore," said a Customs source.

The said gold was seized under the reasonable belief that the same was being attempted to be smuggled within India in a clandestine manner and hence was liable for confiscation under the provisions of the Customs Act.

"Voluntary statement of Razini was recorded wherein she admitted that by profession, she is shoe-maker with not much income. She said she attempted to smuggle gold without declaring it to Customs Red Channel and without paying applicable duty," the official said.

"Razini further said that the seized gold belongs to her and she had purchased it in Dubai by using her savings. She was going to sell it in India for profit-making. The investigation in this case is at the preliminary stage. The accused is a foreign national and further investigation underway to break the bigger nexus involved in the smuggling activities," the official added.

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