A Kenyan national has found herself in legal trouble in India after authorities found her with illegal gold worth millions.
The Kenyan was stopped at the airport after arriving at an Indian airport from Nairobi, and upon a search, 1,485 grams of gold were discovered.
Reports suggest the Kenyan national was attempting to get past customs at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport but was nabbed after a tip-off.
Authorities found her in possession of gold dust worth 1.6 crore, which is approximately Ksh2.8 million.
While it is unclear why she tried sneaking in gold dust, smugglers typically prefer gold in dust form because it is less detectable and can facilitate flexible concealment, including hiding inside luggage linings or mixed with wax.
In some extreme cases, unscrupulous individuals have been reported to have swallowed gold dust capsules like drugs just to evade customs.
Incidentally, the Kenyan was the third suspect arrested at an Indian airport on Wednesday, April 9, after Air Intelligence Unit officials intercepted a mother and her son who were trying to smuggle gold worth 2.7 crore, which is approximately Ksh3.6 million.
The three suspects were all booked under the Customs Act and remanded to judicial custody.
This latest incident points to a worrying trend in recent weeks of Kenyan nationals getting in trouble abroad for unlawful activities.
Earlier in April, Indian customs officials arrested a 43-year-old Kenyan woman who was nabbed with 1.7 kilogrammes of cocaine valued between Ksh225 million and Ksh300 million (Rs 15 to 20 crores).
In a bizarre coincidence, the suspect was also nabbed upon her arrival at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. Like the gold smuggler, authorities also acted on a tip-off.
Earlier, in February, 14 Kenyans were among 18 individuals apprehended with processed gold and diamonds. The contingent was nabbed after a routine frisking and scanning procedure.
