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CHENNAI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a novel modus operandi of gold smugglers who colluded with two customs havildars. The havildars — Arun and Karthik — aided the smuggling cartels by producing fake x-ray reports to declare that the couriers did not conceal gold in their body and let them escape with the consignment. Apart from the two havildars, an x-ray staffer engaged by customs dept on contract and two smugglers of Sri Lankan origin were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. After inquiries, havildar Karthik as well as the x-ray staffer too were arrested.
About 2.5 kg of 24 karat gold worth Rs 4 crore were seized from the smugglers. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in Chennai Stay updated with the latest Chennai news.
If they are intercepted, Arun would take the passenger to the x-ray room and get a fake report in connivance with the x-ray staffer to deceive the customs officer on duty,” said a DRI source. DRI officials suspect that smugglers might have sneaked out at least four consignments using the modus operandi with the help of the havildars. Usually, those intercepted by customs sleuths on suspicion upon arrival at Chennai airport would be subjected to x-ray scanning for body concealment of contraband – be it gold or narcotics – if searches in their baggage and dress did not contain suspicious items. X-ray reports will clearly indicate body concealment of contraband and will be used as evidence in the court during trial. However, based on intelligence about collusion of havildars with smuggling cartels, a DRI team camped at Chennai airport and caught the smugglers who arrived from Sri Lanka on a Srilankan Airlines flight with gold in paste form concealed in their rectums. They caught havildar Arun red-handed for helping them. “Karthik, who was posted outside the airport, was in touch with the smuggling cartels. He alerted Arun who was posted at the customs channels at the arrival terminal about passengers arriving with gold. The involvement of customs havildars in gold smuggling is being investigated further to establish if more personnel were part of the network. Download the TOI App.