PUNE: Customs officials deputed at Pune airport nabbed a passenger coming from Dubai by a SpiceJet flight on Saturday with 2.1 kg of gold worth Rs 74.41 lakh.
The passenger, Zuhair Zahid Penkar, from Mhasla, Raigad arrived by SpiceJet flight SG 52 on Saturday at 4.15 am. According to the official, he wrapped gold in a black pouch containing gold in paste form.
Joint Commissioner of Customs Pune Vaishali Patange said, “Zuhair arrived from Dubai. The person was personally searched by the official. During the search, two polythene pouches containing gold paste concealed and wrapped inside the black jeans around the waist and inside the innerwear of Zuhair were found.”
The polythene pouches were containing heavy golden coloured paste-like material which was recovered from him.
“The gold paste has been seized by customs officers on the reasonable belief that it was smuggled in India. The passenger, Zuhar Zahid Penkar, was arrested by the customs officer,” added Patange. “The operation was carried out because of vigilant monitoring and checking by customs officials Madhav Palnitkar and Pratibha Madavi under supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Customs Dr Motilal Shete.
Further investigation as per Customs Act 1962 is under progress,” mentioned a statement released by the Pune Customs.