A 26-year-old man from Gujarat and his spouse had been intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Worldwide Airport for allegedly hiding 24 karat gold mud of their rectum, valued at Rs 1.25 crore, in an try to smuggle it into the nation. Officers mentioned the person was arrested, nonetheless, his spouse was not booked, because the accused claimed that the girl was merely following his directions and was unaware that he was concerned in smuggling gold.
In accordance with AIU officers, the arrested man has been recognized as Mohammad Wasif Tahirali Shaikh, who had travelled to Bangkok together with his spouse. He had allegedly informed her that they had been visiting Bangkok for tourism functions, however whereas leaving, Shaikh allegedly hid the gold mud in his rectum and requested her to cover a few of it. Late on Tuesday, when the couple arrived from Bangkok at Mumbai airport, they had been recognized on the aerobridge. Nevertheless, the intelligence officers continued following them and intercepted them after they crossed the Inexperienced Channel.
“On the exit of the arrival corridor, an AIU officer requested them whether or not they had been carrying any dutiable items, contraband, or gold of their baggage or on their particular person, to which they replied within the adverse,” mentioned an official.
Because the AIU officers weren’t glad with their response, a search and subsequent X-ray screening of their our bodies had been carried out, after which “24 KT gold mud in wax (six pieces- three items every) with a internet weight of 1,530 grams, valued at Rs 1,25,93,354, was discovered hid inside their rectums”.
AIU officers seized the property, and an intensive interrogation was carried out. Throughout the interrogation, Shaikh confessed to being concerned in a smuggling racket. Shaikh claimed that he participated in it for financial advantages, as one particular person, recognized solely as Ali Bhai, had promised him Rs 40,000 for smuggling the gold.
After 765 grams had been discovered with Shaikh and one other 765 grams had been recovered from his spouse, he allegedly informed the AIU officers that his spouse was not concerned within the matter and that she had acted solely in response to his directions. “The girl didn’t know his intentions to smuggle gold from Bangkok and solely knew that they had been going to Bangkok for sightseeing. He additional confessed that he’s instantly and voluntarily concerned within the smuggling of gold for cash,” an officer added.
Shaikh was arrested early Wednesday underneath the related sections of the Customs Act. He was produced earlier than a courtroom, the place advocates Rajesh Shah and Advani Sachvani Hira appeared for the accused, after which he was remanded in judicial custody.
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AIU officers added that their groups are attempting to determine the bigger nexus concerned within the smuggling actions.
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