At least 14 Kenyans are among 18 persons detained in India after being apprehended at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport while reportedly attempting to smuggle gold and diamonds.
According to reports, the 18 people were arrested by Customs authorities on Tuesday and Wednesday this week for possessing processed gold and diamonds.
Addressing the press shortly after the arrests, Customs agents stated that during a routine frisking and scanning operation on Tuesday, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officers discovered suspicious substances inside one of the passengers’ laptops.
The traveler who was on his way to Bangkok, Thailand, from Idian was apprehended on Tuesday, February 1, and turned over to the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at the airport for further questioning.
During the interrogation, Customs authorities allegedly seized 2147.20 carats of diamond worth Ksh73 million from the passenger, who thereafter allegedly violated the Customs Act.
The incident prompted Customs authorities to intensify their search at the airport, and hours later, the officers arrested 14 Kenyans who had come from Nairobi.
During interrogation on Wednesday, February 12, the authorities discovered 22-carat melted gold bars and jewelry weighing 2,741 grams and valued at Ksh27.5 million.
According to Indian authorities, the Kenyan travelers hid the gold bars and jewelry in their underwear and clothing pockets.
Aside from the Ksh27 million gold and jewellery, the authorities discovered unclaimed 22-carat melted gold bars totaling 2,406 kg and valued at Ksh24 million lying on the airport floor.
On the same day, customs authorities apprehended three travelers who had come from Dubai with 775 grams of 24-carat crude gold rhodium-plated rings and buttons worth Ksh9 million.
The officers discovered that the three had disguised the item in their belt buckles and trolley bags, which they carried discreetly to avoid detection.
The recent incident underscores the rising practice of smuggling gold into India.Some Kenyans have become embroiled in the problem, prompting the Asian country to implement harsher regulations.
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