A grounds employee at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) was arrested on charges of smuggling approximately $126,000 worth of gold.
The arrest of the Menzies Bobba Ground Handling Service staff member was the result of a four-month long Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) operation.
The employee, known only as Aslam, smuggled 3.03 kg of gold.
"After the immigration check, Aslam took the carrier to a 'blind spot' and collected the gold from him," a DRI official told Times of India. "After collecting the gold, Aslam used his security pass to bypass customs' check area and left the arrival block."
Details about the gold smuggling operation first emerged in January when another Menzies Bobba staff member, Sirnath, was found and arrested for smuggling 4.65 kg of gold hidden in cigarette packets.
Upon his arrest and interrogation, Srinath apparently told officials he was making the pick up based on instructions from his colleague, Aslam.
Shortly after, DRI officials started monitoring Aslam's activities, according to a Times of India article which gave no sources.
Gold smuggling isn't a new RGIA, according to the DRI website. In 2012 to 2013 there was a "spurt in he seizures of gold bars and jewelry."
