NEW DELHI – Two air travellers tried to illegally bring gold into India – one in their rectum and the other in a coffee machine – but Indian authorities nabbed them.
The two smugglers, who were travelling independently of each other, were carrying a total of 3.5kg of the precious metal worth around 20 million rupees (RM1.1 million), the Hindustan Times reported today, citing local authorities. They were detained at the airport in the Indian metropolis of Lucknow at the weekend after travelling from Dubai, reported dpa news.
A video posted on social media shows how an airport employee destroys the coffee machine with a hammer and cylindrical gold bars emerge. The smuggler with the gold in his rectum was transporting it as a paste, the story said.
Gold smugglers, who are often creative in their methods, are repeatedly apprehended in India. The metal is highly valued in the country and most of it is imported. To avoid customs duties, attempts are repeatedly made to import it illegally.
Rich people in India repeatedly offer gold to the gods in Hindu temples. Many also see it as good luck to buy the precious metal for holidays, and women often receive gold jewellery for their wedding – also as security for difficult times. – January 1, 2024