Kolkata: Gold, silver and diamond ornaments worth over Rs 1.5 crore, allegedly smuggled into Kolkata, were seized by Airport police, who arrested a Rajasthan man while he was allegedly attempting to take the consignment out of the airport premises.
Police said they recovered around 1.7 kg of gold and silver jewellery, valued at about Rs 1.2 crore, along with 22-carat diamond ornaments worth nearly Rs 40 lakh. The jewellery was allegedly concealed in the helmet storage compartment under the seat of the accused’s scooter.
The accused, identified as Ram Avtar Sharma, was arrested after he allegedly failed to produce any documents proving lawful possession of the ornaments.
Police also seized the scooter. Investigators suspect the involvement of a larger smuggling racket, possibly with the assistance of some airport cargo employees.
Acting on a tip-off, officers mounted surveillance outside the airport cargo complex and intercepted Sharma as he exited the building.
“During interrogation, the man failed to provide a satisfactory explanation about the source of the jewellery or its intended destination,” a senior Bidhannagar police officer said.