Memory cards worth Rs 1.33 cr seized
7 May 2012 12:57 AM GMT
Two people were arrested at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport late Saturday night for illegal possession of 74,250 of 2GB SanDisk Micro SD cards [memory cards]. The accused, Kamal Chadda and Amrit Pal Singh, who were returning from Hong Kong, apparently had plans to sell these smuggled memory cards at Gaffar Market in Delhi.
The market is known for its availability of electronic goods. The accused were arrested by the Airport custom officers of IGI Airport. The duo wore specially designed clothes, which they used to smuggle the memory cards. 'The accused had stitched zipped pouches around their chest and thighs. Memory memory cards worth Rs 1.33 crores were seized,' said Dipin Singhla, Assistant Commissioner of Customs, IGI Airport.
He added that the passenger Amrit Pal Singh of Tilak Nagar, Delhi, and holder of Indian Passport No. G-4926251, arrived at IGI Airport, New Delhi, from Hongkong via Flight No 9W-077 at 10.30 on 5 May 2012. While passing through Green Channel, on suspicion, he was diverted and his baggages were scanned, but nothing incriminating was found. But later, the officers recovered 40,350 memory cards, valued at Rs 72.51 lakhs from him, cleverly hidden inside his clothes.
The accused, Amrit Pal Singh, when interrogated revealed the identity of another passenger, who was also carrying memory cards along with him. Later, a further 33,900 memory cards were recovered from Kamal Chadda. Kamal Chadda was detained outside the airport premises, after Amrit Pal disclosed his identity. He was also hiding memory cards in his clothes.
'Since 1 April, three more passengers were arrested with memory cards worth Rs 55.50 lakhs,' said Rajeev Tandon, Commissioner of Customs, IGI Airport.
There is a great demand for memory cards in India making it a favoured item among smugglers out to make some quick money.
The market is known for its availability of electronic goods. The accused were arrested by the Airport custom officers of IGI Airport. The duo wore specially designed clothes, which they used to smuggle the memory cards. 'The accused had stitched zipped pouches around their chest and thighs. Memory memory cards worth Rs 1.33 crores were seized,' said Dipin Singhla, Assistant Commissioner of Customs, IGI Airport.
He added that the passenger Amrit Pal Singh of Tilak Nagar, Delhi, and holder of Indian Passport No. G-4926251, arrived at IGI Airport, New Delhi, from Hongkong via Flight No 9W-077 at 10.30 on 5 May 2012. While passing through Green Channel, on suspicion, he was diverted and his baggages were scanned, but nothing incriminating was found. But later, the officers recovered 40,350 memory cards, valued at Rs 72.51 lakhs from him, cleverly hidden inside his clothes.
The accused, Amrit Pal Singh, when interrogated revealed the identity of another passenger, who was also carrying memory cards along with him. Later, a further 33,900 memory cards were recovered from Kamal Chadda. Kamal Chadda was detained outside the airport premises, after Amrit Pal disclosed his identity. He was also hiding memory cards in his clothes.
'Since 1 April, three more passengers were arrested with memory cards worth Rs 55.50 lakhs,' said Rajeev Tandon, Commissioner of Customs, IGI Airport.
There is a great demand for memory cards in India making it a favoured item among smugglers out to make some quick money.
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