Mumbai: Eighteen women of Kenya have been held by the airport customs for smuggling about 4 kg of gold worth Rs 1.6 crore.
The gold is in the form of bars, wires and dust, hidden in a number of personal items, including a layer of footwear and underwear, masala containers, and cans of coffee.
All 18 women arrived from the Kenyan Capital Nairobi through Sharjah International Airport Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj early on Sunday morning.
“Seeing a large group and uniform, it is also of a very underdeveloped parts of the world, raised suspicions that they may act as a courier for gold smugglers,” said a source.
Soon, customs officials and the woman was taken in drawing a thorough inspection of their luggage, handbags and other personal items.
“At first, nothing appears when concealment was smart.
But persistence paid off and hidden gold began to emerge,” the source said.
“They have a mix of gold dust in Masala and coffee …
in toothpaste as well.
They have put gold dust in their lingerie.
They have a layer of gold wire in their footwear.” In the end, 4kg gold recovered from the group.
The women, after they were booked for smuggling, told officials that they sold gold in India and pocketing the difference in price to buy clothes to sell back home.
“It’s tragic.
Due to dire economic times in East Africa, ordinary people are forced into crime, especially smuggling.
What do you do when there is poverty raging around you? We have observed an increasing number of Kenyans are involved in gold smuggling and other contraband goods, “said a veteran customs expert.