New Delhi: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) at New Delhi recently intercepted two smugglers and recovered 55 kg Agarwood, priced Rs 6.5 crore in international market.  

Agarwood is highly sought-after, valuable, aromatic wood used in production of high-end perfumes and incense.

On July 26, 2023, CISF's surveillance and intelligence staff at Terminal-3 of IGI Airport did a random checking of a passenger, Shelim Ahmed Talukder, before his departure for Bangkok.

During the routine X-ray screening of Talukder's trolley bag, suspicious images of Agarwood were discovered. The matter was immediately reported to the Customs officials, who subsequently allowed the passenger to proceed with check-in and immigration, all the while keeping a close watch on him through physical and electronic surveillance.

After completing the necessary formalities, Talukder was intercepted once again by the alert CISF staff and taken to the Departure Customs office.

On a thorough physical inspection of his belongings, 28 kg of Agarwood chips were found concealed inside his trolley bag. Talukder failed to produce any valid documents allowing him to carry such a substantial amount of the rare commodity.

What unfolded next was even more astonishing!

On being questioned by the authorities, Talukder divulged information about his accomplice and another passenger, Uddin Mohammed Sahab, who was scheduled to travel on the same flight and was carrying an additional stash of Agarwood in his registered baggage.

The CISF personnel promptly intercepted Sahab near Boarding Gate No. 10 and brought him to the Customs office. The registered baggage was offloaded, and inside it, officials found 27 kg of Agarwood. The value of the combined seizure of 55 kg of Agarwood is estimated to be Rs 6.5 crore in the international market.

Both Talukder and Sahab were handed over to Customs officials for further legal action. /BI/