An airport passenger has been arrested in Sharjah for allegedly trying to smuggle nearly half a million dirhams' worth of gold out of the UAE.
Police intercepted the man, said to be in his 30s, as he was attempting to travel back to his home country from the UAE.
Officers became suspicious of the way the Asian man was acting and pulled him aside.
After searching his bags, the force found and seized a haul of gold worth Dh430,000 ($117,070), which the man was allegedly trying to conceal in his personal items.
“This seizure reflects the proficiency of our well-trained officers at the airport police section,” said Lt Col Matar Al Ketbi, head of Sharjah Airport Police.
When asked to produce receipts and proof of ownership for the gold, the man was unable to do so, police said.
He told police he found the gold in a remote area of Sharjah and failed to report the incident to the local authorities.
He was referred to prosecutors and has been charged with intentionally misappropriating items belonging to others.
Details regarding the time and date of the incident were not revealed, nor was the accused's identity.
“We urge all members of the public to contact police and immediately report any items they find,” said Lt Col Matar.
Tackling Indian gold smuggling: in pictures
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This passenger who travelled on a Dubai to Delhi flight was found to have smuggled melted gold taped to his bald head. He wore a wig to conceal it. Photo: Delhi Customs -
Customs officers at Delhi airport on April 17 seized 15 gold bars concealed in the socks of a passenger who disembarked a flight from Dubai. The bars weighed 1,747 grams and would be worth more than $100,000, meaning the passenger was avoiding paying thousands of dollars in import tax. Photo: Delhi Customs -
Delhi Customs said a passenger who came off a flight from Dubai was found to have melted down this 443 gram bar of gold into a paste and wrapped it around his legs. Photo: Delhi Customs -
A huge gold chain was confiscated from a passenger who was wearing more than the permitted gold allowance. He was further found to have tried to smuggle several bars through Delhi airport to avoid paying thousands of dollars in import duty. Photo: Delhi Customs -
A customs officer tears open a hidden compartment of a suitcase to find a large amount of undeclared currency in Saudi riyals and UAE dirhams. The passenger, who landed in Delhi on a flight from Dubai, was detained. Photo: Delhi Customs
