NEW DELHI: A Malaysian was arrested at Chennai International Airport on Saturday for attempting to smuggle diamonds worth 22.5 million rupees (RM1.34 million) into India.
Officers from India’s Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) questioned the 48-year-old man after they recovered several bundles of diamonds from his luggage on his arrival from Kuala Lumpur.
They acted on a tip-off that precious stones were likely to be smuggled from Malaysia, the AIU said in a statement.
Two packets were found in the man’s attire and eight inside a cooker in his checked-in luggage.
They contained 55 mini ziplock pouches in which the diamonds were hidden.
According to the AIU, the passenger told Indian customs he was supposed to deliver the diamonds to a person outside the airport.
However, no one turned up to collect the consignment when he was taken outside the airport and watched by police from a distance.