820 gm of gold matchsticks seized from Kovai air passenger

According to sources, Aftab, 37 from Kannur in Kerala, had arrived by Air Arabia flight from Sharjah around 4.30 am at the Coimbatore International airport.

When the baggage of all passengers was subjected to a routine check through a scanner, the Customs officials suspected some concealment in the bag of Aftab. On doubt, the bag was again scanned at the arrival hall only to find some suspicious substance inside the handle of the knives.

Taking into consideration the weight of the knives and inconsistency in density of materials revealed in the scan, their base was cut open and the officials found gold concealed inside.

“There was about 816 grams of gold in the form of small cylindrical rods, roughly the size of matchsticks (114). The gold, worth around Rs 20 lakh, was hidden in cavities inside the handles of five kitchen knives. The knives had a unique brand name engraved on them and they were labelled as made in Germany,” officials said.

Following the seizure, the Customs officials are probing further to know if he was operating as a carrier for a larger smuggling network. Officials said that the smugglers are adopting newer ways to smuggle gold.

This incident comes just a fortnight after an air passenger was caught smuggling 750 grams of gold in powder form by concealing it in a fake bandage wrapped around both legs near the ankle, at Coimbatore airport