Lucknow airport smugglers escape: Alleged baron arrested

About two-and-a-half months after 29 gold smugglers managed to escape customs custody at the Lucknow airport on April 3, the customs department on Sunday arrested one of the alleged masterminds of the gold smuggling ring. gold and cigarettes allegedly exploited by smugglers based in India and the Gulf countries.

The arrested man was identified as Mohammad Sadiq, 40, of Kanda village in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district, customs said.

“The capture of Mohammad Sadiq is a major step forward for our department. He is one of the kingpins and we hope to extract crucial information about the 29 smugglers who escaped on April 3,” said a senior customs official while confirming the arrest and preferring to remain anonymous.

The smuggling network is at the center of customs investigations due to its sophisticated operations and significant financial implications. The network's ability to orchestrate large-scale smuggling efforts across international borders has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current security measures at major transit points, including airports.

The officials question him about his modus operandi, his other assistants, their hiding places and transactions, etc.

This arrest follows an intensive manhunt and strategic operations carried out by the customs services to dismantle the smuggling syndicate. Authorities hope Sadiq's interrogation will reveal valuable information about the smuggling network's modus operandi and lead to further arrests.

If convicted under the customs law, Mohammad Sadiq faces up to six years of rigorous imprisonment.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement agencies face in curbing smuggling activities and securing national borders.

While 28 gold smugglers are from Tanda village in Rampur, one is from Uttarakhand and all of them know each other well, officials said.

The escape of these 29 smugglers was filmed by the airport's video surveillance cameras. According to officials, gold seizures increased six-fold during 2023-2024 in Uttar Pradesh.

Smuggled gold items weighing around 140 kg were recovered from Lucknow, Varanasi and a few other airports in the state by different agencies, including Customs, during the said period, they added.

“This increase in seizures is accompanied by an increase in trafficking of foreign cigarettes, with approximately ₹15 crore contraband intercepted across Uttar Pradesh,” the officials said.