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Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Air India crew member held for smuggling gold worth ₹1.41 crore
MUMBAI: The Mumbai zonal unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested a male crew member of Air India for allegedly smuggling 1.373 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at approximately ₹1.41 crore, into the country. Also Read: Smuggling bid foiled: Customs seize 5.75 kgs of gold, two flyers arrested According to DRI sources, the crew member was intercepted on Friday at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) shortly after arriving from New York on flight AI-116. The operation was based on specific intelligence suggesting that a syndicate was using airline crew members to smuggle gold from the United States into India. While an initial search of the crew member yielded no results, sustained questioning revealed that he had allegedly hidden a pouch containing gold bars—wrapped in black duct tape—near the baggage services area during a mandatory post-flight breathalyser test. Also Read: Who is Chengxuan Han? Chinese national accused of smuggling biological materials into US The DRI team later recovered the pouch, which held 1.373 kg of smuggled gold. In a voluntary statement, the accused reportedly admitted to having smuggled gold into India on earlier occasions as well. Based on his disclosure, DRI officials launched a follow-up operation and arrested the alleged mastermind of the smuggling network. The individual is accused of orchestrating the use of airline crew members to ferry illicit gold into the country and is also said to have confessed to his involvement. Also Read: Seven held for cow smuggling, two more nabbed in separate case Both men have been arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. In a separate operation conducted in September 2023, the DRI had arrested six individuals—including a private airline security employee—in connection with another gold smuggling racket involving foreign-origin gold brought in through the airport. 'DRI has been consistently exposing involvement of airline personnel and ground staff in gold smuggling,' a DRI official said. Despite repeated attempts, Air India officials could not be reached for comments. When HT contacted Air India about DRI's investigation in the case, it did not get a comment.
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Indian Express
DRI arrests Air India crew member for smuggling gold from US to India, mastermind too nabbed
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested an Air India crew member for allegedly working for a gold smuggling racket and smuggling gold from the United States to India. The DRI also arrested the mastermind of the racket and seized smuggled gold worth Rs 1.41 crore. Acting on specific information, DRI officials on Friday intercepted Girish Pimpale, 42, who had arrived from New York on flight AI-116, near the exit gate after he crossed the customs green channel at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. On his examination, the DRI officials seized two pieces of paper on which handwritten calculations regarding the purchase of gold were found. This bolstered DRI's suspicion of Pimpale's involvement. Hence, he was subsequently placed under interrogation in which he reportedly admitted his role in the smuggling activity. He also showed a pouch containing 1373.2 grams of foreign-origin gold (worth Rs 1.41 crore) on the side of a sofa placed near the baggage services area in the international arrival hall of Mumbai International Airport, which was subsequently seized, sources have said. Pimpale's further investigation revealed that one Rakesh Rathod was supposed to receive smuggled gold from him, as he is the mastermind running the racket. Rathod was subsequently arrested on Saturday. Mastermind offered AI crew Rs 2 lakh on every 1 kg of smuggled gold Explaining how the racket was being operated, another source said that Rathod would ask Pimpale to buy gold in the US, make payment in cash, smuggle it to India and give it to him, as there is a huge profit margin. Since crew members are not examined, taking advantage of the same, Rathod decided to rope in Pimpale for the smuggling job. Probe has revealed that Rathod offered Pimpale Rs 2 lakh on every 1 kg of smuggled gold. He would also arrange cash in the US using some hawala channels for Pimpale to buy gold there. Recently, Rathod arranged USD 150,000 in the US for Pimpale to buy the gold for smuggling purposes, the source added. Further investigation has revealed that Rathod and Pimpale have known each other for the past year, and he allegedly accepted smuggled gold from Pimpale twice in the past. Rathod has a criminal past. He was previously booked by the customs in a gold smuggling case by Mumbai customs in 2020. The DRI officials are further investigating the matter and are trying to find out details of other members of the racket and also the source of funds used in purchasing the gold. Both the accused have been arrested under relevant sections of the Customs Act.
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
Air India crew arrested in Mumbai for smuggling gold worth Rs 1.41 crores from US
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested a crew member of an Air India flight from New York to Mumbai for smuggling gold biscuits from the US to India. The accused was a crew member of Air India flight AI-116 which arrived in Mumbai from New York on June 13. Gold bars weighing around 1373 grams, valued at around Rs 1.41 crores were recovered from the accused. advertisementAccording to officials, initial searches on the crew member did not lead to any recovery. However, upon sustained questioning, the accused revealed the place where he had hidden the pouch and it was recovered. He also admitted that he had smuggled gold into India on previous occasions as well. In a subsequent action, the mastermind of the racket, who was using crew members to smuggle gold into India, was also arrested. He also confessed to his crime. Both were arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, investigation into this matter is still on to catch others involved in the racket. Tune InTrending Reel
News18
a day ago
- News18
Air India Crew Member Held For Smuggling Gold Worth Rs 1.41 Cr From US
Last Updated: After investigation, a pouch containing grams of foreign-origin gold was recovered by the DRI officials. The mastermind of the smuggling has also been arrested. Acting on specific intelligence regarding a gold smuggling network involving airline crew, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, intercepted a male crew member from Air India flight AI-116, arriving from New York on 13 June. While the initial search yielded nothing, subsequent interrogation revealed that the crew member had concealed a pouch containing foreign-origin gold bars, wrapped in black duct tape, near the baggage services area during the post-flight breathalyser test. Following this disclosure, DRI officers recovered the pouch, which contained 1,373 grams of foreign-origin gold. During further questioning, the crew member admitted to smuggling gold on previous occasions. DRI Mumbai arrested an Air India crew member from flight AI-116 for smuggling 1.373 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at ₹1.41 crore. The gold was concealed near the baggage area post-flight. The syndicate's mastermind, using crew for smuggling, was also nabbed. Both confessed… — IANS (@ians_india) June 14, 2025 The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of the alleged mastermind behind the racket, a handler who had been recruiting airline staff for gold smuggling. The accused confessed to orchestrating multiple smuggling operations. The seized gold, valued at Rs 1.41 crore, has been confiscated under the provisions of the Customs Act and both the crew member and the handler have been remanded in custody. Further investigation is ongoing. In a similar incident in December 2024, an Air India cabin crew member was arrested for assisting a passenger in smuggling 1.7 kg of 24-carat gold at Chennai airport. The crew member reportedly handled the passenger's gold during the flight. In May 2024, an Air India air hostess, Surabhi Khatun, was arrested at Kannur Airport in Kerala for allegedly smuggling approximately 960 grams of gold concealed in her rectum. First Published: June 14, 2025, 19:41 IST
