Customs seizes gold worth Rs 88 lakh from fliers, aircraft

Based on a tip-off that gold is likely to be smuggled in an Indigo flight arriving from Dubai, the aircraft was searched by the air intelligence unit of customs department during which they found two packets wrapped in black adhesive tape from inside a life jacket kept underneath a seat. In the packet, the officials found gold weighing about 1.22 kg and worth Rs 48 lakh.

In another case, while checking the passengers who arrived from Dubai, Customs officials intercepted Nihal Ahameed (27) of Ramanathapuram on suspicion. On searching him, the officials found 211 gram of gold worth Rs 7.1 lakh concealed in his rectum. The gold was seized.

In the third incident, based on specific information the officials intercepted two Sri Lankan nationals, Anushka (31) and Nishanthani (29). On interrogation, both admitted to having concealed gold in their rectum. The sleuths recovered 805 grams of gold worth Rs 27.16 lakh.

In the last incident, authorities noticed a purse lying unattended in a planter in the arrival hall. On examination, three gold cut bars weighing about 177 gram worth Rs 6 lakh was found in it.