CHENNAI: The Customs officials at Chennai airport seized gold totally worth Rs 2 crore and arrested three people, including a contract employee of an eatery in the airport, for smuggling attempt.

The contract employee, Manikandan (28), was arrested while trying to exit the airport with a flask-like container which had 1.4 kg of gold, worth Rs 92 lakh, concealed inside. When the officials checked the flask, they found it contained gold bars instead of coffee as Manikandan claimed.

Further investigation revealed that a passenger who arrived from Dubai had handed over the plastic container to Manikandan, who was supposed to deliver it to a person waiting outside the airport. However, Manikandan was caught by security officials before he could do so.

This was the second case of smuggling in a day that the Customs officials thwarted after having seized 1.65 kg gold worth Rs 1.08 crore from two passengers, including a woman, who arrived from Dubai and Thailand on separate flights.

One of them had hidden gold paste in the sole of the shoes, official sources said.

The arrested people are being questioned to find out more details about the smuggling network.