A 40-year-old Kenyan woman was apprehended at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport in Mumbai on Saturday, 30th September on charges of gold smuggling.
Authorities identified the woman as Sahra Mohammed Omar, from Nairobi, Kenya.
“On her arrival from Nairobi to Mumbai on a Kenya Airways plane, flight number KQ202, Sahra Mohammed Omar was intercepted by the personnel of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs.
She was holding a passport issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” read part of the Airport Customs’ statement.
The customs officials recovered gold weighing 3.4 kilograms which was concealed in Sahra’s inner wear and on her person.
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The Arrest
The AIU officials had been profiling passengers, and Omar’s behavior raised suspicion. Further, they intercepted her near the exit gate of the Custom arrival baggage hall as she crossed the green channel, heading towards the exit.
Upon conducting a thorough search of Sahra Mohammed Omar, Customs officials made the discovery.
The recovery was worth Ksh29 million and included 22 KT gold melted bars (17 pieces) and 21 KT gold assorted jewelry.
Likewise, Sahra Mohammed Omar, now in police custody, has been sent to 14-day judicial custody as the legal proceedings unfold.
Her arrest and the seizure of the smuggled precious element are part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal trafficking at Indian airports.
Similar Cases of Gold Smuggling
Similarly, in August 2023, another Kenyan national named Maryan Nabhsir was arrested at Mumbai International Airport for allegedly smuggling 2.5 kilograms of gold metal bars and assorted gold jewelry worth Rs 1.09 crore (Ksh 19.4 million).
Like Omar, Maryan Nabhsir had alsoa rrived from Nairobi via Addis Ababa by an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
These recent cases are indicative of a larger problem in India. Smuggling of gold has become alarmingly common, despite being illegal.
In April 2023, nine Kenyan women were arrested at the Mumbai Airport for attempting to smuggle gold worth Sh156.4 million.
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Furthermore, incident, captured on CCTV, displayed the women engaging in a fracas with airport guards to divert attention from their illegal activities.
