Pune Customs official recovered gold biscuits worth Rs 29 lakh from Spice Jet aircraft, airlines staff under scanner 

Pune Customs official recovered gold biscuits worth Rs 29 lakh from Spice Jet aircraft, airlines staff under scanner 

Pune: Officers of the Customs Department from the Pune airport on Saturday recovered eight unclaimed gold biscuits, which were concealed beneath the seat number 27F of Spice Jet flight SG 52, which arrived from Dubai in the morning.

Two similar incidents were reported involving the same flight last year in October.

The recovered gold weighed 933.11 grams, which is worth Rs 29.01 lakh. Sources from the department said all passengers and crew members were also under the scanner. The gold has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Mahesh Patil, Deputy Commissioner, Customs, Pune airport, said, "The gold biscuits were wrapped in a black adhesive tape and were kept beneath the seat in the 'life jacket' portion. The eight gold biscuits weighing 933.11 grams are worth Rs 29,01,972." 

The officer said the further investigation was being conducted.

The source told Sakal Times that every passenger, including the airline crew members and staff, were being under the scanner. The officers were gathering details about the passenger, who was occupying the seat. 

"A similar incident was reported almost a year ago when officers had recovered gold amounting to a high value. On October 6, 2016, our officials had recovered one kilogram of gold worth Rs 31 lakh from beneath a seat in the same flight. We are exploring all angels," said the highly placed source from the department.

Two flights from Dubai (Spice Jet and Air India) and one flight from Abu Dhabi (Jet Airways) arrive daily in the city. 

"Usually, smuggled gold is recovered from passengers' baggage coming from Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Those who smuggle gold always try to hide it in their luggage. However, gold is also being smuggled in by hiding in Spice Jet flight coming from Dubai," said the source.

"We found twice in the past that gold was hidden inside the aircraft. So, we suspect some crew members might be involved in the illegal import of gold biscuits," said the source.

Gold found twice in Spice Jet flight a year ago
*October 6, 2016: Customs officials seized gold bars weighing one kilogram worth Rs 31 lakh, which were kept underneath a seat of the same Spice Jet aircraft.

*October 26, 2016: Customs officials recovered 10 gold bars worth Rs 2.8 crore, which were found inside the rear toilet of the aircraft.

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