Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 24: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has uncovered an alleged international gold smuggling racket operating through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, arresting five individuals, including a passenger arriving from Dubai and two airport housekeeping employees. Officials seized 3.866 kg of smuggled gold dust in wax form, valued at approximately Rs 5.63 crore.
According to the DRI's remand application before a Mumbai court, the operation was launched after intelligence inputs indicated that a passenger arriving from Dubai would conceal gold inside an aircraft, from where it would later be retrieved by airport cleaning staff.
Acting on the information, DRI officials kept watch on Mohamed Urwa, who arrived on Emirates flight EK504 from Dubai on July 22. After the passenger disembarked, officers continued surveillance on the aircraft while the cleaning crew began routine housekeeping.
Investigators observed two employees of AGH Port Aviation Services, identified as Rajesh Manjrekar and Zaheer Qureshi, leaving the aircraft after spending nearly 20 minutes inside. The duo was intercepted and taken to the Customs office for questioning.
During the search of Qureshi, officials allegedly recovered two black pouches concealed in his trouser pockets. The packets, wrapped in black adhesive tape, contained gold dust mixed in wax form. A government-approved valuer later confirmed the material to be 24-carat gold weighing 3,866 grams gross (3,760 grams net), with an estimated market value of Rs 5.63 crore.
According to investigators, Qureshi stated during questioning that he had collected the packets from a hidden compartment inside the aircraft lavatory on the instructions of his supervisor, Rajesh Manjrekar.
The DRI alleged that Manjrekar admitted he had been acting on behalf of a handler identified as Mohammed Ajhar Kazi alias Aamir, who allegedly paid him to supervise the retrieval of smuggled gold concealed in aircraft toilets.
Following a planned surveillance operation, DRI officers apprehended Ajhar outside the airport. During further investigation, he allegedly disclosed that he was working under the directions of another individual, Mohammed Ahmed alias Mustaf, who was subsequently arrested.
The agency said statements of all five accused were recorded under Section 108 of the Customs Act, during which they allegedly admitted to their respective roles in handling the smuggled foreign-origin gold.
Officials estimated that if the consignment had been imported legally through the baggage route, customs duty of nearly Rs 2.48 crore would have been payable. The DRI alleged that the smuggling attempt resulted in duty evasion well beyond the threshold prescribed under the Customs Act.
The agency informed the court that investigations are continuing to identify other members of the syndicate, trace the origin of the gold, probe suspected hawala transactions, identify the intended recipients and unravel the larger international smuggling network.
The DRI also argued that releasing the accused at this stage could hamper the investigation, alleging they may influence witnesses, destroy evidence or coordinate with other absconding members of the syndicate.
All five accused have been arrested under Sections 104 and 135 of the Customs Act, 1962.
Counsel for the accused, Ravi Hirani, told the court that his clients were unaware that the gold they handled had been smuggled into the country.
The DRI has sought 14 days of judicial custody, maintaining that the case involves an organised international gold smuggling network and requires further investigation.