Two nabbed for smuggling gold at Hanoi airport

Hoang Thi Ngoc Anh, 34, who works as a professional flight attendant, and Nguyen Ngoc Sang, 30, were arrested on Wednesday by customs officers at Noi Bai International Airport after attempting to smuggle three kilograms, or 80 ounces, of gold, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

The two suspects both reside at the Times City Apartment Complex in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi, officers said.

The amount of gold was to be transported from the Vietnamese capital to Incheon, The Republic of Korea, where it would be sold for profit, they continued.

Sang and Anh had completed the customs procedures and security checks on their cabin luggage and were ready to depart on flight VN 416 at around 11:40 pm when competent authorities discovered a metal package attached under Sang’s seat with a magnet.

The package was then found to contain gold.

According to the Customs Office at the airport, the passengers admitted they intended to carry the gold to South Korea without any declaration to customs officers.

“The amount of gold has been confiscated and transferred to the municipal Department of Police for investigation,” the office added.

With regard to the case, a technical employee of the Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company, a subsidiary of national carrier Vietnam Airlines, is now in custody for being involved in the smuggling.

Leaders of the firm have been cooperative in the probe of competent authorities and at the same time tightening supervision over other employees and their performances.