Woman caught with 320 grams of gold hidden in footwear at Delhi airport

Customs officials intercepted a woman passenger arriving from Ashgabat at Delhi's IGI Airport and recovered five gold ingots weighing about 320 grams concealed inside her footwear. The seizure was made after spot profiling and security checks. Further investigation is underway

New Delhi: A woman passenger arriving from Turkmenistan was intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here after Customs officials allegedly recovered five gold ingots weighing about 320 grams concealed inside her footwear, officials said on Wednesday.

The passenger, who had arrived from Ashgabat, was intercepted on the basis of spot profiling after crossing the Green Channel, according to a Customs statement.

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While no suspicious images were noticed during the X-ray screening of her baggage, the passenger triggered a beep alert while passing through the Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMD), the statement said.

“When asked to place her footwear for X-ray screening, the passenger attempted to remove and conceal the gold ingots hidden inside the footwear. The alert Customs officers noticed the act and recovered five gold ingots weighing approximately 320 grams during the personal search,” it said.

Further investigation is underway, it added.