A 40-year-old woman from Kenya was arrested on Sunday at Mumbai Airport after she was caught smuggling gold worth Ksh29 million.
According to the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), the woman had hidden the gold in her innerwear and was heading out of the airport when she was profiled.
On search, the AIU officers found that she had 17 pieces of 22-carat gold melted bars which were concealed in her innerwear.
A further search revealed that she had jewellery amounting to 21-carat gold also concealed in her body.
The lady who is believed to be a resident of Captain Mungai Street in Nairobi was immediately arrested and placed under 14-day judicial custody.
“She was holding a passport issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which was valid till 2032,” a statement from Indian authorities read in part.
The authorities added that she had departed Nairobi on September 30, headed to Mumbai.
AIU officers stated that they have reasons to believe that the Kenyan woman has been involved in a series of smuggling cases.
Cases of drugs and other contraband being smuggled through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have been on the rise.
A spot-check by Kenyans.co.ke on August 31, revealed that over Ksh1.2 billion worth of contraband had been seized so far in 2023 meant for the Indian black market.
India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has raised alarm that there is a powerful cartel in Kenya smuggling contraband to the Asian country.
Drugs coming from Kenya have forced India to heighten security in the country's main points of entry and frequent profiling of passengers coming from Kenya.
