Customs foils bid to smuggle antique gold jewellery

KARACHI: Customs Preventive Services on Friday foiled the bid to smuggle antique and precious gold jewellery and arrested one suspect during a raid at the Jinnah International Airport Karachi, ARY News reported.

Deputy Collector Customs (Preventive) Mohammed Faisal said the rare and precious jewellery was recovered from the passenger, Israr Mohammed, who was going to Thailand.

He said the suspect was carrying 115 tola antique gold and 20 tola silver jewellery as well as 11,250 US dollars.

“The passenger was trying to smuggle the antique gold and silver jewellery abroad,” he said.

A first information report has been lodged against the passenger at a police station.

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On April 15 Reuters news agency reported, India’s gold smugglers had slowed their operations over worries their shipments will be caught up in seizures of cash, bullion, booze and drugs that were aimed at controlling vote-buying in the country’s national elections.

In India, political parties and their supporters often offer money or goods in exchange for votes.

The Election Commission, which monitors the polls, had tried to prevent this by setting up highway checkpoints to seize cash, gold, liquor and other high-value items that candidates avoid mentioning in their expenses due to a cap on the amount they can spend.