A significant gold smuggling racket has come to light involving the illicit transport of 267 kg of gold worth Rs 167 crore. The operation, currently under intense scrutiny by customs officials, involves a senior Airport Authority of India (AAI) official.
The racket was uncovered on June 29, when the Chennai Air Intelligence Unit, acting on specific intelligence, intercepted Mohammed Sabir Ali, a sales executive from the Airbus shop located in the transit/departure area of the airport. A search revealed three bundles of gold paste hidden in Sabir Ali's rectum.
Further investigations revealed that Sabir Ali, along with seven other individuals, was recruited by a Sri Lankan syndicate. This syndicate had been funneling hawala money to rent the Airhub in the international departure area of Anna International Airport by contracting with Vidvedaa PRG.
The smuggling process involved transit passengers delivering gold in paste form to the shop or toilet in the departure area. The gold was then concealed in the rectums of couriers and smuggled out of the airport. Over two months, this method was used to smuggle 267 kg of gold.
An investigation report obtained by India Today revealed that Sabir Ali was approached by Kumar R, a Sri Lankan national, who proposed opening a shop in the airport's transit area and arranged the necessary finances. The Airhub opened on February 22, 2024, with an advance payment of Rs 77.44 lakh, of which Rs 30 lakh was paid to Vidvedaa PRG through the accounts of Sabir Ali and Xavier DSouza. The remaining amount was paid by Kumar R. through multiple accounts.
Sabir Ali confessed that Prithvi, the managing director of Vidvedaa PRG (who has since resigned), influenced AAI officials to establish the Airhub specifically for smuggling gold. Following this confession, customs officials conducted raids at the residences of a top AAI official and Prithvi.
The investigation is ongoing, with further inquiries being conducted to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.
