An Indian visitor to the Gulf successfully smuggled two gold capsules worth AED222,550 by concealing them in his body cavity upon landing in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on October 28.
After passing through customs and airport checks, he was coerced by two individuals claiming to be from the Anti-Terrorist Squad. They assaulted him, forcing him to surrender the concealed gold in a high-rise building.
The victim lodged a police complaint, revealing he flew to Dubai at the behest of an acquaintance to smuggle gold. Investigations are underway, delayed by the complainant’s initial reluctance to approach authorities due to fear.
Gold smuggling in India has surged by 33% to 160 tonnes in 2022, attributed to increased import duties and rising gold prices. Smugglers employ inventive methods such as concealing gold in body cavities or ingesting capsules filled with gold paste.
