Seizure of Iridium, Ruthenium, Memory Cards, Stone Beeds, Watches etc. Collectively Value At Rs. 2.28 Crore

On the basis of a specific intelligence received from DRI, Mumbai Zonal Unit, four passengers holding Indian Passports who arrived at NSCBI airport, Kolkata from Bangkok by Thai Airways flight No.TG 313 on 25.02.2011 were apprehended in a joint operation by both the DRI officers of Kolkata and Mumbai. Detailed examination of their baggages it was found that they were carrying 5 kg. grey metal powder suspected to be Iridium, 5 Kg. grey metal powder suspected to be Ruthenium, 35400 pcs. of 2 GB Micro SD Memory cards, 88.5 Kg. stone beads, six costly branded watches of foreign origin and 218 Kg. of glass ‘Chaton’ in 9 cartons. The total value of the above mentioned goods has been ascertained to be Rs.2.28 crore (approx). All the goods, so recovered from their baggages, were seized U/S 110 of the Customs Act, 1962 on the reasons to belief the said goods are liable to confiscation under section 111 of the Act, ibid as the goods were found in commercial quantity and can not be termed as bonafide baggages. All the four persons involved in the smuggling activities knowingly were arrested. Further investigation is going on.

[Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Kolkata Press Release dated 28.02.2011]