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2.4 kg gold seized by customs at Chennai airport, two arrested

In another case, the AIU officers on Thursday intercepted one female passenger Padmavathi 30, who had arrived from Kuwait.

Chennai: The Air Intelligence Unit at Chennai International airport detected three cases of smuggling of gold on Wednesday and Thursday.

According to sources, on Wednesday a Thai passenger Kraisorn Thamprakop, 38, arrived from Bangkok by Thai Airlines flight She was intercepted at the exit of the Anna International arrival hall, on suspicion of carrying gold. She was questioned but as her answers were evasive. She was frisked and her baggage searched. During a personal search, 2 gold cut bars totally weighing 1.4 kg valued Rs 47 lakh were found concealed inside a cavity made in her brassiere, The gold was recovered and seized under the Customs Act 1962.

On being questioned, she said she was just a carrier and she would hand over the gold to someone outside the airport who would identify her by her photograph in WhatsApp. She was taken outside the airport and a man approached her. As soon as he came near to her he was nabbed by AIU team. He was identified as Loveleen Kashyap, 33, from Chandigarh.

On further questioning, it was ascertained that both of them were to fly to Delhi together with the gold. They were arrested and further investigations are underway

In another case, the AIU officers on Thursday intercepted one female passenger Padmavathi 30, who had arrived from Kuwait.

During her personal search, 2 gold cut bars totally weighing 365 grams valued at Rs 12 lakh kept concealed in her undergarment were recovered and seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

In the third case, the officials sized unclaimed gold on Thursday evening. On Thursday during routine surveillance at the arrival hall, the officers noticed one baggage trolley parked in secluded place.

As no one approached to take the trolley it was examined, when officials found 700 grams valued at Rs 23 lakh. It was seized under the Customs Act as unclaimed. Probe is on.

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