Shock at Bengaluru Airport: Visually Impaired Man Caught Smuggling Gold Worth ₹3.4 Crore!

Bengaluru (The Uttam Hindu): Customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) have arrested a visually impaired man for smuggling gold worth ₹3.4 crore. The arrest took place on Saturday, just a day after Sandalwood actress Ranya Rao was caught with gold worth ₹12.56 crore. According to customs officials, the identity of the arrested man has not been revealed yet. He was intercepted on March 4 upon arrival from Dubai. Based on specific intelligence, Bengaluru Air Customs officers stopped him and found 3,995.22 grams of gold hidden under his shirt. The recovered gold is valued at ₹3,44,38,796 in the Indian market. A case of smuggling has been registered against him, and further investigations are underway.

This arrest comes right after the shocking detention of Ranya Rao, who was taken into custody by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at KIA for attempting to smuggle gold. She had arrived in Bengaluru from Dubai and was found carrying 14 kilograms of gold bars hidden inside a belt strapped to her body. Additionally, 800 grams of gold jewelry were also recovered from her.

Following her arrest, Ranya was presented in court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Investigators suspect that she may be linked to a larger gold smuggling syndicate operating through Bengaluru airport. Her frequent international travels raised suspicion, as she had reportedly taken over 10 trips abroad since the beginning of the year. Authorities began tracking her after noticing her repeated visits to Gulf countries within short intervals.

Investigations also revealed that in the last 15 days, Ranya had traveled four times using the same method, always wearing similar outfits to conceal the belt. Officials believe both arrests could be connected to a larger smuggling network. This incident highlights the rising cases of gold smuggling in Bengaluru and the increasing need for strict airport surveillance.