Hyderabad, May 1 (UNI) Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials on Thursday seized 3.5 kg smuggled gold of foreign origin worth Rs 3.45 crore at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here and arrested three persons, including two ground handling staff and a passenger, officials said.

On specific intelligence, DRI officials from Hyderabad Zonal Unit, intercepted an Indian passenger who had travelled from Dubai to Hyderabad via Muscat, along with a ground handling staff working at the airport near the Aero Bridge at the RGIA.

The smuggled gold was being handed over to the ground handling staff by the passenger when the DRI team arrested the accused.

Investigation revealed that the smuggled gold was supposed to have been delivered to another ground staff waiting near the parking area at RGIA. The second staff member would later return the said gold outside the airport to the same passenger after he exited the customs area.

A total of 30 gold bars (10 tola each), concealed in three packets, were recovered from the passenger.

The accused were arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 & have been remanded in judicial custody, police said.

Further investigation is in progress, police sources added

UNI KNR PRS