Gold worth Rs 44.8L seized at city airport

The AIU officers posted at the Anna International Airport had heightened their vigil after receiving specific tip-off that a group of passengers who were coming here from Sri Lanka were smuggling gold. As they kept watch, the officers spotted four women passengers, all Sri Lankan nationals, who had arrived from Colombo on a Sri Lanka Airlines flight and a SpiceJet flight caught their attention.

Suspecting that they were carrying gold, the officers stopped them at the exit of the arrival hall. When they checked the women and their belongings, the AIU officers found the gold concealed in their handbags. Hidden inside the bags were eight gold chains, four gold rings, three gold bits, two gold bars, two gold bangles and one gold bracelet.

These were of 24 karat purity, together weighing 1.32 kg. The value of the gold was estimated to be Rs 44.8 lakh. According to a statement from the Customs Commissioner, the gold was seized under the provision of Customs Act, 1962, and further investigation is on