Surat Airport Security Snoozes as 100+ Kg Gold Smuggling Goes Unchecked!

Surat : Surat city police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) recently apprehended four seasoned gold traffickers, sending shockwaves across the city. The illegal gold, worth Rs 4.29 crore, was carried from Dubai through Surat airport late Sunday night in the form of paste.

The event has also raised major concerns about the operation of the customs department and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is in charge of airport security.

What’s more concerning is that the accused are thought to have smuggled over 100 kg of gold from Dubai through the Surat airport in the previous several months, directly under the noses of the customs department and the CISF. Both agencies were clearly dormant, exposing a significant vacuum in the security system.

This incident raises major concerns about the safety of our airports and necessitates prompt action to avoid such situations in the future.

According to sources, the gold smugglers may have paid customs and CISF employees at the Surat airport to facilitate the transit of the illegal bullion.

According to police sources, the four smugglers were identified as Fenil Rajesh Mavani, 27, of Shlok Residency in Utran, Nirav Ramnik Davaria, 27, of Gokuldham Society in Mota Varachha, Umesh alias Lakho Ramesh Bhikharia, 34, of Ravi Building in Sarthana, and Sawan Shantilal Rakholia, 30, of Shripad Avenue in Yogi Chowk.

The four smugglers were apprehended after the SOG got a tip. Police officers set a trap at Magdalla—the location of Surat airport—for nabbing Fenil Mavani and Nirav Dabaria, who returned to Surat on an Air India Express aircraft from Sharjah. To avoid the prying eyes of Surat airport security, gold paste was concealed in their underwear and shoe soles.

The cops apprehended both individuals as they exited the airport. Umesh alias Lakho Bhikharia and Sawan Rakholia, the other two suspects, accompanied them. The SOG police detained all four accused on suspicion of smuggling gold worth Rs 4.29 crore.

This is the most serious instance of gold smuggling documented at Surat Airport. The gold was to be sent to one Vicky, who lives in Varachha and is engaged in bullion dealing.

Parth Sharma and his cousin Vicky, according to the accused, are engaged in massive gold smuggling. Over the course of six months, three female peddlers were also involved in gold smuggling, bringing over 100 kg of gold to Surat from Dubai.