Another gold carrier intercepted at Jaipur airport

JAIPUR: The customs department seized around 350 gram of gold worth Rs 17 lakh at the Jaipur International Airport on Friday. This is the third seizure in 10 days.
The gold was intercepted from a passenger who landed from Dubai and officials claimed that in 90% of cases, these ‘carriers or mules’ have no idea as to exactly what they are smuggling and carry the precious metal for just few thousand rupees.
Officials also said that in majority of the cases, the carriers turn out to be persons who are in blue collared jobs abroad and mostly are natives of Nagaur or Shekhawati belt.
In the recent seizure on Friday evening, customs officers at Jaipur International Airport intercepted one passenger, who arrived from Dubai and after thorough examination of his baggage, 349.810 gram gold valued at Rs 17,40,305 was seized. The said gold was concealed in one coffee and spice grinder machine and three magnetic bracelets. “In 90% of the cases, while the carriers might have some inkling, they are not sure as to exactly what the package contains. They are persons who are sent abroad for jobs and after working for few months, they are unemployed so for a return ticket home and money, they get the package. In fact, they do not even know the identity of the person who is supposed to take the package from them after they get out of the airport though the receiver knows the carrier’s identity,” said a customs official.
The passenger carrying the gold does not have any information of the smuggling ring.
The smugglers also ensure that the gold carried is of the permissible value which is below Rs 20 lakh so that there is no risk of arrest. Elaborating further, the official said, “When the carrier is delayed getting out of the airport after we have intercepted the gold, the receiver realises that something is amiss and does not wait around. Also the receiver gets the information of a possible interception either through a co-passenger or other means.”
Just five days back, 1,400 gram of gold was intercepted from a passenger who landed from Dubai and prior to this, around 400 gram of gold was seized from a passenger who landed from Sharjah.