Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport Customs officials have arrested a 45-year-old man for allegedly smuggling out diamonds valued at Rs 4.93 crores to Bangkok. The diamonds were cleverly concealed in a laptop and trolley bag.

Adv Arman Shaikh who represented the accused said, "My client has been falsely implicated in the case. The valuation report was not provided to us with the remand which clearly indicates misappropriation and the fakeness of the matter. What exactly was seized and in what quantity can only be determined in the valuation report, which was absent. My client was not given ample time to prove the authenticity of the diamonds found in his possession and enough opportunity to show the valid documents. The diamonds have been overvalued and the figure was quoted inorder to make the offence non-bailable."

According to the Customs sources, on the night duty of 11/12.02.2025, the CISF officials posted at the airport had intercepted one passenger B.G. Nathani, a resident of Surat. During screening the CISF found something suspicious inside the laptop carried by Nathani. After that the CISF physically checked the laptop and found 26 small plastic pouches having material like diamond in white colour from laptop.

The said passenger was to depart from CSMI Airport, Mumbai on 12.02.2025 to Bangkok. The passenger was handed over to Customs with recovered 26 small plastic pouches having material like diamond in white colour.

On a reasonable suspicion that he might be carrying contraband/ dutiable goods / wildlife animals or exotic species either in his baggage or on person; His baggage was examined and personal search was conducted. During the examination of his trolley bag another 04 packets small plastic pouches diamond like material in white coloured were found. Diamonds valued at Rs 4.93 crores were recovered from the passenger.

"The said diamonds were seized under the reasonable belief that the same were being attempted to be smuggled out from India in a clandestine manner. In his voluntary statement Nathani admitted knowledge, possession, handling, concealing, smuggling and recovery of the seized goods. He also admitted that he has no legal documents of the seized diamonds and the said the diamonds belong to one of his friends. He also admitted that he attempted this act for monetary benefits," said a Customs source.

"Investigation conducted so far has indicate that larger syndicate may involve in the smuggling of the diamonds. The details of accomplices of the accused are being ascertained. Persistent efforts are on to get the details of these accomplices. The investigations in the case are at a very preliminary stage and efforts are also being made to identify and apprehend key associates of the accused," the official added.