Surabhi Khatun, a 26-year-old Air India Express flight attendant, was detained by India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for trying to smuggle almost a kilogram of gold on a flight from Oman to Kerala, India.
The gold was hidden in her anus, local media reported. Khatun was identified by the authorities as a potential smuggler, which resulted in her arrest at Kannur airport after a three-hour flight from Oman. The search revealed that the stewardess was smuggling 960 grams of gold.
Authorities say Khatun had special training that enabled her to smuggle such a large cargo because it is impossible for an untrained person to hide such a large amount of gold in the rectum.
Some criminal groups reportedly provide special training for people who want to smuggle gold in this way. Police suspect that Khatun has links with gold smuggling gangs in Kerala and expect to get more information during her interrogation.
The incident sheds light on the growing problem of gold smuggling into India, the world's second-largest gold consumer. Despite the high risks, including arrest, gold smuggling is a lucrative business. High import taxes and the demand for cheap gold favour the development of the smuggling market.
The most popular place from which gold is smuggled to India is Dubai. However, in recent years, other Gulf countries such as Oman, as well as Singapore, have become more popular with gold smugglers.
Smugglers typically choose large Indian airports such as Delhi and Mumbai as delivery points for their goods. However, airports in Kerala are becoming more and more attractive to smugglers.
This is not the first time cabin crew have been involved in smuggling. In 2021, an American Airlines flight attendant was arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle two gold bars while flying from Argentina to Miami.
Analysing these incidents, it can be seen that gold smuggling is a serious problem that requires decisive action from the authorities. As smugglers become more innovative, so too must law enforcement to stop this illegal practice.
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This article was originally published on Onet Travel.