Routine passenger traffic and regular flight operations were underway inside the arrival terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport when Emirates Airlines flight EK-514 arrived from Dubai. Following standard disembarkation procedures, travellers cleared immigration counters within minutes and moved into the central baggage claim section. As dozens of passengers gathered around the conveyor belts awaiting their checked luggage, surveillance personnel observed an interaction unfolding near the public conveniences.
Nervous Conduct Near Restrooms Alerts Vigilant Officer
A man and a woman who had arrived on the same Emirates flight were seen conversing in hushed tones right outside the restroom area. Their anxious body language and guarded conduct appeared completely out of place amid the ordinary terminal bustle. After whispering quietly for a brief moment, the pair parted company and walked in opposite directions. However, their unusual movement had already caught the keen eye of an officer who kept tracking the woman as she navigated the arrival hall.
Interception at Green Channel by Air Intelligence Unit
After waiting at the conveyor belt, the woman retrieved her baggage and walked toward the terminal exit. Just as she approached the customs green channel, the officer monitoring her steps intervened and stopped her for detailed questioning. The intercepting official was a senior officer from the Air Intelligence Unit. Simultaneously, team members moved in to apprehend the male passenger with whom she had held the clandestine exchange near the washroom.
DFMD Scan Triggers Alarm After Luggage Passes Initial Inspection
Both individuals were escorted to the examination area, where their luggage was put through an X-ray scanner followed by a thorough physical search. These initial scans yielded nothing suspicious. The female passenger was then directed through the Door Frame Metal Detector, commonly known as a DFMD, which registered no alarm or irregular signal. However, the situation changed dramatically when the male traveller stepped through the metal detector portal, triggering an immediate and intense auditory alert.
Recovery of 2 Kilograms 168 Grams of Smuggled Gold
A rigorous personal search of the male passenger immediately followed the metallic alert. Officials recovered 10 individual gold bars weighing 10 tolas each, along with a single 1 kilogram gold bar concealed on his person. In total, the seizure yielded 2 kilograms 168 grams of gold. Based on prevailing domestic market rates, authorities have assessed the value of the confiscated precious metal at 33818632 rupees, while further investigation continues into the smuggling attempt.
