In a dramatic crackdown on gold smuggling, Mumbai Airport Customs officials arrested a 26-year-old man who allegedly used his wife as an unwitting accomplice to smuggle gold by concealing it inside their bodies. The officials seized gold worth Rs 1.25 crore from the couple upon their return from Bangkok.
According to Customs sources, the accused, Mohammad Wasif Tahirali Shaikh, a resident of Surat, and his wife Ruhin landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (C.S.M.I.A) on Tuesday. Acting on a tip-off, the customs officials identified and intercepted the duo at the aerobridge and later at the Green Channel.
Upon questioning by an Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officer regarding the possession of dutiable goods, contraband, or gold, the couple denied carrying anything illegal. However, their body language raised suspicion, leading to a personal search and an X-ray screening. This revealed six pieces of gold dust in wax, weighing a total of 1,530 grams, hidden in their rectums.
Officials confirmed that the gold was being smuggled into India in a clandestine manner, making it liable for confiscation under the Customs Act. Following the seizure, Shaikh admitted in his voluntary statement that he had smuggled the gold without declaring it to evade customs duty.
Shaikh further claimed that his wife had no knowledge of his smuggling plans and was merely following his instructions, believing they were traveling to Bangkok solely for sightseeing. He also disclosed that an individual named Ali Bhai had offered him Rs 40,000 to smuggle the gold into India.
After confirming his direct involvement, customs authorities placed Mohammad Wasif Tahirali Shaikh under arrest on Wednesday, while further investigations are underway. The incident underscores the increasing use of unconventional methods in gold smuggling and the vigilance of customs officials in curbing such illicit activities.
