1.80 kg of gold seized at Chennai airport; two arrested

CHENNAI: Customs officials at Chennai international airport have seized 1.8 kg of gold, worth Rs 89.2 lakh, and arrested two men. According to a release on Sunday, a special watch was kept based on intelligence that gold was likely to be smuggled by a passenger arriving from Dubai in an Emirates flight (EK-544).

A passenger who appeared to be in a hurry was intercepted at the green channel exit by an alert officer. When questioned, he appeared to be nervous and gave evasive replies. He was identified as Mohammed Ashraf, 21, of Chennai. When searched, two crepe bandages were found tied to the shins of his legs.

On taking them off, gauze bandage was found wrapped and stuck by a duct tape. When it was removed, two paper packets were recovered, one from each leg. Both packets were unusually heavy and weighed 2.07 kg and were found to contain gold paste. On extraction, 1.80 kg gold of 24 k purity valued at Rs. 89.17 lakh was recovered and seized under the Customs Act.

When questioned further, the passenger informed that he was to hand over gold packets to an unknown person outside the airport. He was taken outside the airport to nab the receiver. After sometime, a man who approached him to receive gold was nabbed. He has been identified as one Mohamed Ibr ahim, 39, of Chennai. Both the carrier and the receiver have been arrested.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/1-80-kg-of-gold-seized-at-chennai-airport-two-arrested/articleshow/82682130.cms