New Delhi, September 10, 2024: In a significant development, Muniyad Ali Khan, an Indian national accused of operating a key role in an international gold smuggling network, was extradited from the UAE on Tuesday. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed that Khan was apprehended upon arrival in India, following close coordination with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Abu Dhabi.
Khan, a resident of Sikar, Rajasthan, had been evading arrest since a warrant was issued by the NIA Special Court in Jaipur. His extradition follows an Interpol Red Notice that led to his capture. The NIA, which has been investigating the case, filed a chargesheet against Khan and 17 others in March 2021, accusing them of conspiring to smuggle gold into India from Saudi Arabia.
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Khan and his co-conspirators, including Sameer Khan, Aizaz Khan, Surendra Kumar Darji, and Mohammad Arif, are alleged to have orchestrated the smuggling of gold bars and biscuits by concealing them in the battery compartments of emergency lights and checked-in baggage. The racket came to light on July 3, 2020, when customs officials seized 18.5 kg of gold at Jaipur International Airport from passengers arriving from Riyadh on SpiceJet Flight SG-9647. Ten individuals were arrested in connection with the haul.
This is not the first major arrest in the case. Shokat Ali and Ali Mohabbat, also wanted in connection with the smuggling operation, were extradited from Saudi Arabia in April 2024 and August 2023, respectively.
Khan’s extradition is seen as a major success in India’s efforts to combat organized crime and smuggling networks, with further investigations expected to unfold more details about the international smuggling syndicate.
