Chennai: 6.9 kg gold worth Rs 3.6 cr seized, 5 arrested including airport janitors

According to Officials, they had maintained a special vigil at the transit area, based on information regarding gold smuggling by a Dubai returnee on flight 6E 8497.

Air Customs officials have busted a smuggling racket that involved five contract staff who were providing housekeeping services at the Airport.

According to Officials, they had maintained a special vigil at the transit area, based on information regarding gold smuggling by a Dubai returnee on flight 6E 8497. On noticing a janitor entering the toilet in the transit area, officials followed him and caught him in the act of retrieving black bundles from a waste bin. On being cut open, three gold paste packets weighing 2 kg were recovered. 1.81 Kg of gold valued at Rs. 93.2 lakhs was recovered, extracted, and seized under Customs Act.

The suspect passenger who had carried the gold from Dubai was intercepted and identified as Sheikhussman,35, a Trichy native. When he received a call from an individual who had come to receive him, officials followed Sheikh to the area outside the airport and nabbed the person who had come to receive the smuggler. He was identified as one Syed Ibrahim Shah,21, of Chennai.

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-chennai-69-kg-gold-worth-rs-36-cr-seized-5-arrested-including-airport-janitors-2856346