Gold haul on Lankan flight, Customs seizes 6.5 kg gold from 29 passengers

Based on the tip-off that a huge quantity of gold was being smuggled into the country via Colombo by Mohamed Niyas flying in a Sri Lankan Airlines flight that arrived at 2.30 am on Sunday, the officials obtained special permission and reached the airport on Saturday night itself.

When the flight landed in Chennai at 2.30 am, the DRI team checked all the 184 passengers and detained 29 of them on suspicion, as they had gone to Sri Lanka and returned to Chennai within 24 hours.

All of them were taken to the Customs hall for a detailed check-up. While checking their luggage, the officials found that all of them were ‘couriers’ from Chennai, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Tiruchy, and Pudukkottai. The passengers accepted that they had gold inside their clothes and also in the rectum in the form of a rubbery spread.

Officials recovered and seized 6.8 kg gold worth Rs 2.16 core from the 29 passengers. Sources said each of them carried about 250-400 grams of gold. For every trip the carriers are paid a handsome amount depending on the gold they managed to smuggle in.

The carriers were released after obtaining a written statement from them. The Customs usually arrest those who smuggle articles worth more than Rs 20 lakh. Later, DRI handed over the case to the Customs. Niyas, believed to be the main suspect, was arrested for his previous smuggling offences.

Officials said are investigating the matter to nab the main operators behind this mass smuggling attempt.

On the same day, the Customs official intercepted Aqueab Hussain of Kadapa, who arrived from Kuwait. When they searched his hand baggage, they found gold in the form of sheets and rings, and also cut bits concealed inside two wrist watches. The recovered gold, totally weighing 352 gm, was estimated to be worth Rs 11.8 lakh.