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A bag comprising 20 diamond-studded watches and some chemical packets were found in a cavity in the toilet wall of the AI aircraft (SUPPLIED)
Branded Swiss watches, each worth about Rs15lakh, were found in an Abu-Dhabi- Mumbai Air India flight.
A bag comprising 20 diamond-studded watches and some chemical packets were found in a cavity in the toilet wall of the AI aircraft, reported 'Times of India'.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have begun investigations.
Passengers had left the aircraft by the time we were informed, said DRI officials. They are investigating how the watches were taken inside the aircraft. The role of maintenance staff is also been considered because the watches could only be removed after the aircraft, which is not locked, was shifted to the hangar, they added.
The officials said the sender would not smuggle watches into a country if he was not absolutely certain about his accomplice being able to take them out of the airport.
"It is easy to take stuff out of the airport if the officials guarding the gates are bribed," an official said.
Customs officials check all aircraft from international destinations in the presence of crew members after passengers leave.
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