Gold worth Rs 1.96 cr seized from air passengers

Based on information that two women — Santhanalakshmi (39) of Madurai and Fathima (32) of Chennai — who arrived from Malaysia were intercepted at the exit on suspicion of carrying gold. On personal search, Santhanalakshmi was found to have concealed two pouches in her inner garment. As many as 85 gold chains, 17 bracelets, two harams, two bangles, 13 pendants, 15 rings and two necklaces were recovered from the pouches. The gold assayer certified the jewels to be 22 K purity weighing 2.545 kg worth Rs 1.02 crore. The officials seized the gold and arrested Shanthanalakshmi.

Similarly, Fathima had hidden two packets of gold in paste form. On extraction, the gold weighed 289 grams and was valued Rs 12.59 lakh. Three chains and four rings weighing 139 gram worth Rs 5.59 lakh were also recovered from her.

In another case, Nirosha Lakmali (26) of Sri Lanka, who arrived from Colombo was intercepted at the exit. On personal search, three packets containing gold paste were found concealed in her inner garment. On extraction, 299 grams of gold worth Rs 13.03 lakh was seized.

In the final incident, based on information that gold is likely to be smuggled by concealing them on flights arriving from Singapore, the officials searched Indigo airlines flight which arrived from Singapore on Wednesday morning and found seven bundles wrapped with black tape concealed inside the hollow pipe under two seats. On opening the bundles, 14 gold bars, each weighing 100 grams of 24K purity and worth Rs 62.80 lakh, were recovered. The gold was seized as unclaimed.