Female crew member of airline held in Kannur airport in Kerala for smuggling gold in rectum

This is said to be the first case in India where an airline crew member is apprehended for smuggling gold by concealing it in the rectum.

ByPTI

Published May 30, 2024 | 6:03 PM Updated May 30, 2024 | 6:03 PM

Gold smuggling. Representational Image. (Creative Commons)

A female crew member of an airline was held for allegedly smuggling nearly one kilogram of gold from Muscat to Kannur in Kerala by concealing it in her rectum, a DRI source said on Thursday, 30 May.

Based on specific intelligence by DRI Cochin, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI – Kannur) intercepted the cabin crew member named Surabhi Khatun, a native of Kolkata, who arrived from Muscat at Kannur International Airport on 28 May.

Her personal search resulted in the recovery of 960 grams of smuggled gold in compound form concealed in her rectum, the source said.

After interrogation and completing the necessary formalities, she was produced before the jurisdictional magistrate and remanded to 14 days in a women’s prison in Kannur, the source said.

This is the first case in India where an airline crew member has been apprehended for smuggling gold by concealing it in the rectum, the source claimed.

A detailed investigation has started and the evidence gathered so far suggests she had previously smuggled gold several times. The involvement of Kerala-based individuals in the smuggling gang is also being investigated, the source added.

A representative of the airline was contacted seeking its view on the issue but is yet to respond.

Also Read: Shashi Tharoor’s former staff detained in gold smuggling case

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