4 women held for smuggling gold worth Rs 3.5 crore

Four women, including one who claims to be the anchor of a Kerala-based news channel, have been detained for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold valued over Rs 3.5 crore at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here.

All of them were intercepted on Monday by Customs officials on their arrival here from Dubai in separate flights.

Two of them are native of Bhatkal in Karnataka and others from Kasaragod in Kerala. “Four women have been detained for allegedly smuggling gold weighing about 14 kg,” said Vinayak <g data-gr-id="25">Azaad</g>, Additional Commissioner of Customs at the airport.

The value of the gold is assessed to be Rs 3.64 crore. One of the women from Kerala claimed to be <g data-gr-id="23">anchor</g> of a local news channel there, the official said.

These women had concealed gold, in bars and chains, inside their clothes. All the accused are in their late 20s, another customs official said.

One of the detainees was with a child of about two-years-old to avoid suspicion of authorities, he said.

Investigation in the case is continuing and these women will be arrested after completion of necessary formalities, the official said.