Two women held at Delhi airport with 1 kg gold concealed as silver-coated armlet

Customs officials at Delhi airport seized around 1 kg of gold concealed as “baajubands” (traditional armlets) worn by two women passengers arriving from Istanbul, officials said on Wednesday.

The passengers, who arrived at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on August 5, were intercepted after crossing the Green Channel based on profiling through the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), an official statement said.

Officials said X-ray screening of the passengers’ baggage did not reveal any suspicious images, the statement said.

However, both passengers triggered the Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMD), prompting customs officers to carry out a detailed personal search, it said.

During the search, officials recovered approximately one kg of gold that had been coated with an outer layer of silver and concealed in the form of baajubands worn on the passengers’ upper arms, according to the statement.

The recovered gold has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, and a case of smuggling has been registered, it said.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the smuggled gold and whether the passengers were part of a larger smuggling network, it added.