Smugglers' latest fad: memory cards
20 May 2012 8:25 PM GMT
Five persons, including three employees of private firms involved in maintenance work, were arrested by customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport on Saturday, for allegedly smuggling memory cards worth over Rs one crore in two separate cases.
Two passengers, along with three accomplices, were arrested with memory cards worth Rs 1,60,4900 in international market. They were identified as Ravi Kumar, Omphal, Satish Kumar, Rajiv Kumar and Pradeep Kumar.
'Ravi was arrested with 32,030 micro SD cards with 2 GB and 8 GB capacity. The market value of these cards is about Rs 85.66 lakh', said V K Goel, Commissioner of Customs (IGI Airport).
The group had unique modus operandi. Ravi would drop the cards in a dustbin of the washroom that is meant for passengers at Aeroridge area. Later, his accomplices, garbage collectors Omphal and Satish, along with Rajiv, would pick these up and aid in smuggling them.
Kumar is a resident of Sonepat. He had arrived at the airport from Hong Kong at 11 pm on Friday. His bag was scanned when he was passing through Green Channel.
'A case under Section 104 of the Customs Act has been registered against all of them. We have asked Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to take necessary action,' Goel added.
In another case, one Pradeep Kumar was arrested with 8,356 memory cards of 2 GB capacity. Their market value is about Rs 20 lakh. He also had similar modus operandi. Pradeep is also a resident of Sonepat and had come from Hong Kong.
'When Pradeep's baggage was scanned, we found nothing. Later, garbage bags were checked and three packets of memory cards, wrapped with brown adhesive tape were found concealed in them. They were left behind in the washroom near belt no 13 in the arrival hall,' Goel said. Airport customs officials have arrested 10 such passengers in the last one month. All of them were charged of trying to smuggle memory cards. After gold, narcotics and drugs, memory cards are the latest item of interest for the smugglers.
Two passengers, along with three accomplices, were arrested with memory cards worth Rs 1,60,4900 in international market. They were identified as Ravi Kumar, Omphal, Satish Kumar, Rajiv Kumar and Pradeep Kumar.
'Ravi was arrested with 32,030 micro SD cards with 2 GB and 8 GB capacity. The market value of these cards is about Rs 85.66 lakh', said V K Goel, Commissioner of Customs (IGI Airport).
The group had unique modus operandi. Ravi would drop the cards in a dustbin of the washroom that is meant for passengers at Aeroridge area. Later, his accomplices, garbage collectors Omphal and Satish, along with Rajiv, would pick these up and aid in smuggling them.
Kumar is a resident of Sonepat. He had arrived at the airport from Hong Kong at 11 pm on Friday. His bag was scanned when he was passing through Green Channel.
'A case under Section 104 of the Customs Act has been registered against all of them. We have asked Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to take necessary action,' Goel added.
In another case, one Pradeep Kumar was arrested with 8,356 memory cards of 2 GB capacity. Their market value is about Rs 20 lakh. He also had similar modus operandi. Pradeep is also a resident of Sonepat and had come from Hong Kong.
'When Pradeep's baggage was scanned, we found nothing. Later, garbage bags were checked and three packets of memory cards, wrapped with brown adhesive tape were found concealed in them. They were left behind in the washroom near belt no 13 in the arrival hall,' Goel said. Airport customs officials have arrested 10 such passengers in the last one month. All of them were charged of trying to smuggle memory cards. After gold, narcotics and drugs, memory cards are the latest item of interest for the smugglers.
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