Passenger held at IGI airport with cameras,lenses in AC

A passenger at the Indira Gandhi International Airport was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle in digital-SLR cameras and lenses inside an air-conditioner.

A passenger at the Indira Gandhi International Airport was arrested on Friday for allegedly trying to smuggle in digital-SLR cameras and lenses inside an air-conditioner.

Farrukh Siar,a resident of Agra,was returning from Hong Kong by Air India 317 and was crossing the Green Channel with an air-conditioner when he was intercepted by the Customs officials. He reportedly refused to pay the duty on the air-conditioner,resorting to haggling with the officials. Finding his behaviour suspicious,the officials took the AC set for screening and found 10 digital-SLR cameras and almost an equal number of detachable lenses in place of the compressor.

Officials said the original invoices were also recovered and the value of these cameras was calculated at Rs 3.93 lakh. The international market value of the cameras is over Rs 5 lakh.

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Upon unscrewing the air-conditioner,its compressor was found to have been removed and one Nikon D-7000 camera,along with 18-105mm detachable lens and standard accessories,four Nikon D-90 cameras with 18-105mm detachable lens and standard accessories,two Canon EOS 7D cameras with standard accessories,two Canon SX 30 cameras with accessories,a Canon G-12 camera with standard accessories and one Canon lens FFS 18-200mm were found concealed in it, said Ashutosh Baranwal,Additional Commissioner,Customs (IGIA).

Air-conditioners have been used for smuggling in gold in the past. This is the first case cameras have been imported this way, Baranwal said.

Also found on Siar were fake visiting cards,identifying him to as the general secretary of the Samajwadi Party in the Agra district.

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