Gold worth Rs 59 lakh seized at Chennai airport in 2 incidents

The officers part of the Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs were checking the passengers who arrived from Colombo when Nasim (49) from Ramanathapuram was intercepted at the exit on suspicion.

Examination of his checked-in baggage was carried out, during which 48 shoe eyelets made of gold concealed in the shoes and 46 gold wires concealed inside the refills of ball pens, weighing 231 grams, with an estimated value of Rs 8.6 lakhs were recovered.

In another case, Mohammed Ali Jinna (69) and Saddam Hussain (32) of Ramanathapuram, Vasanth, (31) of Chennai, Ashraf Ali (23) and Jabarullah Khan (35) of Pudukkottai, who had arrived from Colombo were intercepted at exit. On persistent questioning, all the five passengers admitted having concealed gold in the form of rubbery paste in their rectum.

On extraction 1.36 kg gold, valued at Rs 50.4 lakhs, was recovered. In all, the officers seized 1.6 Kg gold valued at Rs 59 Lakhs. All the passengers were detained for further inquiry.