Ahmedabad: The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport at Ahmedabad is fast turning into a hub for smuggling. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday seized 8 kilograms of smuggled gold worth Rs 4.21 crores from a passenger arriving from Dubai. The passenger made a sensational revelation that he was supposed to deliver the smuggled consignment to an employee on duty at the airport.

The DRI had arranged a watch at the airport after receiving a tip-off that a passenger arriving from Dubai on an Emirates flight would be landing at Ahmedabad airport along with 8 kilograms of gold, which he would be handing over to an employee on duty at the airport before the green channel.

The passenger was detained immediately after the flight landed and was interrogated. During this period, 8 kgs of foreign made gold was discovered in his handbag. The passenger admitted that he would have handed over the gold consignment to an employee on duty at the airport before the green channel. Investigation has revealed that the employee, who was supposed to take the delivery, works at a duty free shop at the airport.

The employee at the duty-free shop too admitted that he was supposed to receive the smuggled consignment of gold and that he had provided assistance in the smuggling of gold in the past as well.

In the recent past, the DRI had busted a syndicate smuggling gold while seizing 4 kg gold worth Rs 2.6 crore, and exposed the role of seven people including an airport terminal manager, Hemraj Meena, and a sweeper employed by the company responsible for housekeeping.

DeshGujarat