Currency, gold, cigarettes worth Rs 70.5 lakh seized at Chennai airport
Chennai: A total of Rs 70.5 lakh worth foreign currencies, gold and foreign cigars were seized at the Chennai Airport here on Friday.
Five men were arrested and three separate cases of smuggling were registered.
Four Chennai residents arrived from Dubai in a private airline on Friday morning.
Based on a tip-off, customs officials intercepted them though they attempted to leave via the green-channel, without declaring anything during customs check.
On a baggage search, officials found Rs 41 lakh worth gold weighing 1.5 kilograms hidden in their checked-in baggage. The same was seized from them under the Customs Act 1962. A case was registered and all four were arrested.
Likewise, the same day, another passenger identified as Jaffer (42), arrived from Dubai in a private flight.
The customs intercepted him at the exit of the airport arrival hall on suspicion. On checking his hand luggage, officials found Rs 2.5 lakh worth foreign cigarettes. He was detained and investigations are on.
In the third case, one Ibrahim (34), had arrived at Chennai airport to board a flight to Sri Lanka. On suspicion, officials searched his suitcase and found foreign currencies worth Rs 27 lakh in a hidden column. He was arrested and the currency seized under Customs Act 1962.
