Adding to the series of smuggling attempts at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport of Ahmedabad, the customs officials seized watches worth ₹13.80 crore from a couple arriving from Abu Dhabi.

The couple were trying to smuggle two watches, a Richard Mille watch worth ₹12.50 crore, and an Audemars Piguet watch worth ₹1.30 crore. Legally, 40% of import duties are levied on such watches brought with passenger luggage. The couple, however, tried to wear them on their wrists, with boxes in their luggage, to fool the customs.

Moreover, they took two separate flights to avoid suspicion. The husband came to Ahmedabad on an Air Arabia flight. Within half an hour of that, his wife arrived on an IndiGo flight. 

The two were standing near the conveyor belt near the arrivals of the international airport to collect their luggage. While leaving with their luggage, the customs Air Intelligence Unit officers became suspicious and questioned them, but the couple did not give a satisfactory answer. 

Therefore, their luggage was checked, and watch boxes were found in the luggage.

The customs department has recorded the statements of the husband and wife and both of them have been arrested. The customs officers checked their travel history and profile and found that the couple frequently travels to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 

The accused, both hailing from Rajasthan, claimed that they were given the watches by a family member who had asked them to hand them over to someone at the airport.

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