2 held for smuggling imported watchesThe Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/2-held-for-smuggling-imported-watches/articleshow/10013874.cmsNEW DELHI: If prospective wearers knew how these watches found their way into the market, they would probably not even touch them. Two men were arrested on Thursday night by IGI Airport custom officials, one for carrying an expensive ladies watch in his underwear and the other for concealing four Rolex watches in his rectum.
"Seven high-end watches were seized at the IGI Airport by preventive officers of air-customs. The collective value of these seven watches is Rs 90 lakh," said Ashutosh Baranwal, assistant commissioner of customs, IGI Airport.
In the first case, passenger Asif Khan Ahmed Khan, a resident of Thane in Maharashtra, arrived from Hong Kong on Air India flight AI-317 on Thursday night. He was found wearing a solid gold Rolex watch studded with diamonds and sapphires. When officials put him through more detailed search, they discovered a Franck Muller ladies Geneve 'heart watch' in his underwear. The market value of the two watches wad pegged at Rs 46 lakh. "Khan is a PAN card holder with a declared business of readymade garments worth Rs 6 lakh per annum," said Baranwal.
In the second case, officials stopped another passenger on the same flight after they received specific information about a passenger who would try to smuggle watches into the country. Abdul Majeed Mohammed Ghouse, a resident of Trombay, Mumbai was put under surveillance after he landed. He was stopped at the green channel exit gate and subjected to a more systematic search. Officials found him wearing a Rolex watch. Nothing incriminating was found in his baggage but a metal detector swipe indicated the presence of metal in his rectum.
"Abdul was detained and given food, tea, coffee and hot-water with salt at regular intervals. At 7am on Friday he eased out four watches and metallic straps wrapped in two plastic bags and another Franck Muller watch. Under the Customs Act, the onus of proving that watches are not smuggled lies on the person from whom they have been recovered. Both the passengers have been arrested and are being produced before Magistrate," added Baranwal.
