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MUMBAI: Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of airport customs arrested four carrier from Tanda tehsil of Rampur district in Uttar Pradesh (UP) at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Friday after they arrived from Jeddah with 927 gram gold worth Rs 29 lakh which they concealed in their belt, cap, tooth brush and other stuff.

It is the 3rd case in last one month where people from same tehsil found involved in the gold smuggling case. Officials stated that smugglers become more organized in the district and they lure unemployed and poor youth into smuggling activities after promising them easy money. Last month, AIU has arrested 21 people from same tehsil after they arrived from Jeddah concealing 6 kg of gold in their bottle caps. Last week one more person from same area has been booked for carrying small quantity of gold in date(dryfruit).

On Friday AIU official intercepted four frequent flyers, Mohammad Rehan, Mohammad Ishtiyak, Mohammad Israr and Fakhruk Islam on suspicion after they arrived from Jeddah. The four denied carrying gold, but officials are confident about their involvement in gold smuggling and decided to check their belonging thoroughly. They recovered small gold pieces in belt, strings of his pyjama, in fountain pen, inside datoon and in kurta's pocket. One of them concealed two gold pieces in his mouth and was comfortably communicating with officials. Official seized all the gold pieces weighting 927 grams worth Rs 29 lakh and arrested them in the case. Officials said that the accused were part of the group but they were walking separately to divert custom's attention at the airport to pretend that they are not known to each other.

Accused confesses that they have committed the crime for monitory consideration, and their handle is located at Rampur district. Handler pays between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 to carriers involved in smuggling.

