The pair, aged 41 and 59, were stopped and questioned by customs officials in Mumbai airport after suspicions were aroused around the purpose of their trip.

The women were asked to pass through a metal detector, which alerted the authorities to the two hidden two-kilogram gold chains.

Both of them, as well as a man who was waiting to pick up the gold, have since been arrested by Indian police.

Authorities understand that the gold was being smuggled from Singapore to Mumbai for sale in a local shop.