New Delhi: A female airline crew member was detained for allegedly smuggling nearly one kilogram of gold from Muscat to Kannur, concealing it in her rectum, according to a DRI source on Thursday. Acting on specific intelligence from DRI Cochin, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI - Kannur) intercepted Surabhi Khatun, a Kolkata native, upon her arrival from Muscat at Kannur International Airport on May 28.
A personal search revealed 960 grams of smuggled gold in compound form hidden in her rectum, the source said.
After interrogation and completing the necessary formalities, Surabhi Khatun was produced before the jurisdictional magistrate and remanded to 14 days in the women's prison in Kannur, according to a DRI source.
This incident marks the first case in India where an airline crew member has been apprehended for smuggling gold by concealing it in the rectum, the source claimed.
A detailed investigation has started and the evidence gathered so far suggests she had previously smuggled gold several times. The involvement of Kerala-based individuals in the smuggling gang is also being investigated, the source added. A representative of the airline was contacted seeking its view on the issue, but is yet to respond.
Shashi Tharoor’s PA Held
Notably, Delhi customs officials arrested of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s former personal assistant, Shiv Kumar Prasad, at the Delhi IGI airport on Thursday. Prasad was caught with 500 grams of gold, according to customs sources.
The arrest involved another individual who had arrived from Dubai. Prasad, who reportedly came to the airport to receive this person, was apprehended while the passenger attempted to hand him the gold.
Customs officials noted that Prasad, possessing an aerodrome entry permit card, accessed the airport premises to receive the packet when both individuals were detained.