New Rules Set After Kenya Airways Crew are Arrested with Sh133 Million Gold in India

New rules have been introduced after two Kenya Airways (KQ) crew members were arrested with concealed gold in India last week.

At a meeting of airport officials on Friday, it was agreed that crew members from all airlines remain high risk and their handheld luggage must be scanned henceforth.

Officials said the new rules will also apply to chartered and cargo flights, The Star reported.

The two KQ crew members were intercepted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Thursday and Friday with 18 kilograms of gold valued at Sh133 million (Rs 9 crore).

The gold was hidden inside the false cavity of the carriers’ baggage and was described as one of the biggest cases of gold smuggling in India this year.

The airport officials detained one of the Kenyans who arrived by a Kenya Airways flight on Thursday from Nairobi.

He initially denied having carried anything suspicious, but upon interrogation, he admitted to taking gold from a person in Nairobi and on his instructions, handed over the same to an in-flight attendant who was later intercepted.

The attendant was found carrying 21 pieces of gold bars and one pouch of gold dust in wax form with a combined weight of around 17.33 kilograms.

It is a criminal offence to carry concealed gold in India.

Kenya Airways confirmed the incident, stating that it does not condone breaking of laws.

“Kenya Airways (KQ) has received information that The Mumbai Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) has detained two of our employees for lack of proper documentation relating to precious metals found in their possession.”

“The matter is under investigation, and KQ is cooperating with the investigating agencies. KQ has zero tolerance towards any action of its employees that contravenes local or international laws prevalent in the countries of its operations,” said part of a statement from the airline.