The Customs and Airport Crime Department based at the Mumbai International Airport in India has arrested Sadia Mohammed, a 38-year-old Kenyan woman for allegedly smuggling 3.6kg gold worth at least Rs1.5 crore (approx. KSh. 26.4M).
She was arrested after arriving in India from Nairobi through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, local authorities in the Asian country blaming officials at JKIA for ‘negligence’.
Following her arrival at the Mumbai Airport, a search on Ms. Sadia recovered sliced gold bars, five 22KT melted gold pieces bars, 21KT gold assorted jewelry, collectively weighing 3.6kg.
Customs authorities in India say the woman has admitted the offence upon interrogation and has been detained as further investigation is carried out.
Ms. Sadia is said to be in a well connected gold smuggling racket also responsible for a previous crime in India where at least 8kg of smuggled gold worth over KSh. 70M (Rs 4 crore) was involved.