Mumbai: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs detained eight Kenyan women at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Sunday on suspicion of smuggling gold concealed inside their bodies.Acting on intelligence inputs, the officials intercepted the women, who had arrived from Sudan on Sunday morning. During a personal examination, one of the women was found carrying approximately 300 grams of suspected smuggled gold in her baggage, officials said.Suspecting that the other women were also concealing gold inside their bodies, the AIU officials produced all eight before a court and sought permission to conduct X-ray examinations to ascertain whether they were carrying gold internally.The court granted permission for the examinations, following which the women were taken to JJ Hospital for medical screening. Officials said four to five of the women were reportedly pregnant.According to officials, the women will be monitored during the medical examination. If they expel the suspected gold after being administered medication under medical supervision, further action will be initiated against them under the Customs Act, 1962.The investigation is underway to establish the quantity of gold allegedly smuggled, the individual roles of the women and whether they are part of a larger gold-smuggling syndicate operating through international routes.
