1.5 kg gold, laptops seized at airport in 4 cases, Malaysian woman held

A release from the Customs Commissioner office said that based on specific information, the officers intercepted Vijayaragavan (33) of Tiruchy, who arrived from Singapore via Mumbai by an Indigo Airlines flight, on suspicion that he was carrying gold.

On examination of his hand baggage, three rectangular gold bars, with foreign markings “Valcambi Suisse,” weighing 300 grams and valued at 12 lakh, were found concealed and were later seized by the officials.

In another case, Nur Lina Binti Abdullah (40) of Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia, who had arrived by an Air Asia flight, was intercepted at the exit of the arrival hall, on suspicion of carrying gold. She was found to have concealed gold in rubbery spread in waist portion of her jeans and also in the sanitary pad she was wearing.

After extraction, one gold ingot weighing 582 grams and valued at Rs 23 lakh was recovered. Subsequently, she was arrested.

In another two cases, Mohamed Haroon Rasheed (46) and Rizwan Fazulhag (33), both from Chennai, arrived from Kuala Lumpur by an Air Asia flight. One of them was found to have concealed one gold cut bit weighing 130 grams in his pant pocket and gold in the form of rubbery spread in his rectum. After extraction, one gold ingot weighing 270 grams was recovered. Three gold cut bits totally weighing 269 grams were recovered from the other person.

Totally, 669 grams of gold valued at Rs 26.6 lakh was recovered. Further, examination of their checked-in luggage resulted in recovery of 20 used/refurbished laptops valued at Rs one lakh. A total of 1.5 kg gold worth 61.6 lakh and laptops worth Rs one lakh were recovered and the same were seized under the Customs Act, 1962.