Bhubaneswar: Custom sleuths today detained a Non -Resident Indian (NRI) woman who arrived in Bhubaneswar airport from Bangkok for carrying illegal gold worth Rs 17 lakh.
The gold chains and bangles were given a silver coating in order to hoodwink the officials. "The accused was traveling with a Thai passport. "We have detained her and she is being interrogated for more leads," an airport official informed.
As per reports, soon after the woman landed, her movement raised suspicion among the Custom officials. On frisking the woman and her baggage, the officials found the silver-coated gold.
Officials informed that there has been a rise in cases of gold smuggling attempts via Bhubaneswar airport especially during the last five months.
On April 9, the airport officials seized 700 grams of gold worth around Rs 22 lakh being smuggled inside a mixer grinder Similarly, 180 gm gold worth Rs 5.66 lakh was seized on April 1.
Earlier, three gold bars and 143 gold rings worth over Rs 12 lakh were seized from two passengers hailing from Maharashtra on March 28 while gold biscuits weighing 1.2 kg worth Rs 34.90 lakh were confiscated from two passengers travelling from Dubai.