NIA arrests 17th suspect in 2020 gold smuggling case

New Delhi [India], September 10 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested 17th person in the gold smuggling case connected with the seizure of gold bars worth over Rs 9 crore at the Jaipur International Airport in 2020.

Muniyad Ali Khan, who had been absconding and had a standing warrant of arrest issued against him by the NIA Special Court, Jaipur, was nabbed at Jaipur International Airport after the immigration officials received an alert from Interpol.

A Red Corner Notice was also in place against Muniyad, against whom a chargesheet had been filed by NIA in March 2021, along with 17 others.

NIA investigations in the case have revealed that Muniyad, while working in Saudi Arabia, had conspired with co-accused, Sameer Khan, Aizaz Khan, Surendra Kumar Darji and Mohammad Arif, to smuggle gold bars and biscuits into India from the Gulf nation.

As per the NIA, Muniyad had concealed the gold bars in emergency lights in the check-in baggage of the co-accused.

On July 3, 2020, Customs officials at the Jaipur International Airport seized gold bars weighing 18,569.39 grams and valued at Rs 92,382,724. NIA, which had taken over the case on September 22, 2020, is continuing with its investigation.