Man Held At Delhi Airport By Customs For Smuggling Luxury Watches, Including One Worth Rs 27 Crore. Watch

The accused is an Indian citizen and he returned to India from Dubai on Tuesday, an official statement said as quoted by PTI.

New Delhi: A man has been arrested by customs officials at Delhi airport after the department officials recovered seven precious watches and diamond studded bracelet and a phone from the passenger worth Rs 27.09 crore, officials said on Thursday, as reported by the news agency PTI. Zubair Riaz Kamili, Customs Commissioner of Indira Gandhi International Airport, told PTI that a large number of small diamonds have been installed on these wristwatches. The cost of one of these watches is Rs 27.09 crores. 

This smuggling can be considered equivalent to smuggling about 60 kg of gold. In this sense, this action is equivalent to catching a large consignment of commercial goods.

“In value terms, it is equivalent to seizing around 60 kgs of gold in one instance,” he added.

The identity of the accused of smuggling has not been made public by customs officials. Although the accused is an Indian citizen and he returned to India from Dubai on Tuesday, an official statement said as quoted by PTI.

The detailed examination of the baggage and personal search of the passenger resulted in the recovery of seven wristwatches -- Jacob & Co (model: BL115.30a), Piaget limelight stella (SI.No.1250352 P11179), Rolex oyster perpetual date just (Sl. No. Z7J 12418), Rolex oyster perpetual date just (SI. No. 0C46G2 17), Rolex oyster perpetual date just (SI. No. ZV655573), Rolex oyster perpetual date just (Sl. No. 237Q 5385) and Rolex oyster perpetual date just (Sl. No. 86 1R9269), it said.

According to a senior customs official, the accused traveler and his uncle have a retail outlet of expensive watches in Dubai, which has branches in other cities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

"He was carrying them for delivery to a high-profile client in Delhi. The passenger was to meet this client, said to be from Gujarat, at a five-star hotel in Delhi. The client did not turn up for the meeting. So far, the accused has also not disclosed the name of the client saying he fears for his life," the official said, wishing anonymity.

Chief Commissioner, of Delhi Customs Zone, Surjit Bhujabal said, “Alert customs officers at Delhi Airport has made this (seizure) possible in spite of having such high passenger traffic.

“Indian Customs have always ensured maximum facilitation with minimal disturbance to genuine passengers and simultaneously ensuring to safeguard of economic frontiers by curbing smuggling,” Bhujbal said. 

(With PTI Inputs)