Chennai: Customs officers at Anna International Airport Chennai detected two cases of gold smuggling and seized Rs 80.3 lakh worth gold weighing more than two kilograms on Saturday.
Based on specific intelligence that gold was likely to be smuggled in the Air India flight from Muscat, a search was conducted and 10 gold bars weighing 1.165 Kg worth Rs 40.13 lakhs and concealed underneath a seat in the life vest pouch were recovered and the gold was seized.
The passenger, Abdul Hakeem of Kasaragod (32), who had travelled on the particular seat, was intercepted and questioned. He was evasive in his replies but on further interrogation he accepted to have secreted the gold in the life vest pouch kept under his seat. He was arrested and further investigations are on.
In another case, AIU officers, while maintaining surveillance in the arrival hall and the area connecting immigration counters, examined a garbage bin on suspicion.
On examination, they noticed one white bundle wrapped with black adhesive tape. The officers waited for a considerable time to nab the person who would have placed it. Since no one came to retrieve the packet, it was taken for examination.
On unwrapping the same, 10 gold bars totally weighing 1.165 kg worth Rs 40.13 lakhs were recovered. The same was seized as unclaimed under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962. Further investigations are under progress.
