Further Investigation in the matter is Underway

MUMBAI: In a major development, Mumbai Air Customs apprehended an Indian national bound for Dubai, unearthing a significant stash of natural and lab-made diamonds, valued at a staggering Rs 1.49 crore. The apprehension took place on Wednesday, and the accused individual has been remanded to judicial custody pending further investigation.

Customs officials revealed that the seized diamonds, totaling an impressive 1559.6 carats, were ingeniously concealed within innocent-looking tea leaf packets. This ingenious smuggling technique underscores the lengths to which illicit traders will go to evade detection. Authorities are diligently working to uncover the full extent of the operation, as the investigation is ongoing.

This incident follows another recent discovery by Cochin Customs officials, who uncovered gold worth approximately Rs 85 lakh ingeniously hidden in the lavatory of an IndiGo Airlines aircraft. The gold, cleverly disguised as a paste, was concealed in two unclaimed bags. The total weight of the concealed gold was recorded at a substantial 1,709 grams.

"Cochin Customs authorities acted based on information provided by vigilant IndiGo Airlines staff, leading to the recovery of two unclaimed packages containing gold in paste form from the rear toilet of flight 6E1404 originating from AUH," stated a spokesperson from the Cochin Customs department. The investigation into this matter is progressing diligently, with officials committed to tracing the origins and intended destination of the concealed gold.