An Air India passenger flying from Jeddah to Delhi aboard flight AI 992 was arrested at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for smuggling gold valued at ₹69 lakh. His arrest was prompted by his unusual behavior of repeatedly refusing all refreshments offered during the flight.
During the five-and-a-half-hour flight, the unnamed passenger consistently refused all refreshments, including water and food. His unusual behavior raised suspicion, prompting the flight attendant to alert the captain. The captain then informed security agencies of the passenger’s actions through Air Traffic Control.
After landing in Delhi, security personnel closely monitored the passenger. As he attempted to pass through the Green Customs Clearance Channel, he was stopped for questioning.
Upon questioning, the man admitted to concealing gold paste worth over ₹69 lakhs in his rectum. The contraband was hidden in the form of four oval capsules.
Joint Commissioner (Customs) Monika Yadav stated that approximately 1096.76 grams of gold were recovered from the Air India passenger, who admitted to smuggling the gold from Jeddah. He was arrested under relevant sections of the Customs Act, and an investigation has been launched into the incident.
Cabin crew have been ordered to monitor passengers who do not take food and drinks on long flights, they may be smuggling gold in their bodies. Earlier this year, a souvenir shop at Chennai airport was revealed as a front for a Sri Lankan gold smuggling syndicate. The shop’s owner, YouTuber Mohammed Sabir Ali, was arrested for his role in helping smuggle 267 kg of gold worth ₹167 crore over two months.
