Stopped at the airport: the seven watches were found in the passenger's bag. Photo: Delhi Customs
Stopped at the airport: the seven watches were found in the passenger's bag. Photo: Delhi Customs
Stopped at the airport: the seven watches were found in the passenger's bag. Photo: Delhi Customs
Stopped at the airport: the seven watches were found in the passenger's bag. Photo: Delhi Customs

Watches worth $3.4m seized from Dubai passenger at Delhi airport


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Watches worth an estimated $3.4 million have been seized from a jet passenger arriving in Delhi from Dubai.

An Indian citizen was arrested when the seven timepieces — some rare and others encrusted with jewels — were found in his hand luggage after he arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Customs officials opened investigations after the man was stopped and searched.

An American-made Jacob & Co watch was found, plus a Swiss Piaget timepiece and five Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches with a rare dial and bezel colour.

Designed in 1931, Rolex's Oyster Perpetual model has become desirable among collectors because of the limited number made.

An unworn 2022 model in perfect condition can fetch as much as Dh162,000 on the second-hand market.

About a million watches are made each year by the Swiss manufacturer, but consumer demand outstrips supply — particularly for rare models that often increase in value.

Customers often have to contend with lengthy waiting lists to buy the latest models from authorised retailers.

The Piaget Limelight Stella watch seized from the passenger in Delhi is a model typically worth about Dh120,000.

Although it is not clear what model of Jacob & Co watch was seized, some jewel-studded varieties can command a price of more than $3m.

Luxury watches imported into India are taxed at 18 per cent. Buyers must pay a further 10 per cent in customs duty.

THE SPECS

Touareg Highline

Engine: 3.0-litre, V6

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 340hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh239,312

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Second ODI

England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)

England win by 86 runs

Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley 

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Other key dates
  • Finals draw: December 2
  • Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
  • Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

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TCL INFO

Teams:
Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17

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Updated: October 07, 2022, 6:28 AM`