2 kg gold hidden in shoes seized at airport

The man, identified as KU Irshad of Kozhikode in Kerala, reached Chennai in the wee hours by an Air India flight, which was operated as an international flight from Sharjah up to Thiruvanathapuram and then converted into a domestic flight to Chennai. 

Though Irshad did not carry any luggage, Customs officials on suspicion took him to a private room and searched him. They found him hiding two gold bars, wrapped in adhesive tapes and weighing 1 kg each, in his shoes. The 24 carat gold bars have been estimated to be worth Rs 59 lakh. Since the inscription on the gold suggested that they were bought in Dubai, the officials grilled Irshad and found out that he got the gold bars from a man who reached Thiruvananthapuram from Sharjah in the same flight. Irshad was given the task of handing over the bars to an unidentified man, who would wait outside the airport. Based on his inputs, they took him to the arrival lounge to find if anybody approached him, but in vain.

During the inquiry, Irshad told the officials that his friend in Dubai suggested the smuggling idea to make quick money and he was promised Rs 15,000 to deliver the 2 kg gold. Irshad has been arrested under Customs Act and further investigation is on.