2 foreigners with drones held at airport

Sources identified the two as Martin Aakrv (45) from Norway and Vemoeveen Kai (40) from Belgium. Martin was on his way to Bangkok on a 1.30 am flight while the Belgium national was scheduled to take the 3.30 am flight to Abu Dhabi. The two had claimed that they were freelance photojournalists.

The man from Norway was in India for the past 18 days while the other foreigner reached the country 14 days ago. Both had visited places including Pune, Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Chennai. They reached Chennaithree days ago.

The duo had told the security agencies they landed with the drones and travelled to different destinations in the country with them. They also claimed that they were stopped by the airport security nowhere in the past.

As per India government norms, drones can be used only after getting permission from Director General of Civil Aviation and also a no-objection certificate from the local police. The two did not have any documents to show that they obtained permission from authorities concerned.

Sources claimed that the intelligence sleuths who went through the videos found nothing unusual or suspecting materials in the clips.

For verification of the claims made by the two, their personal details were sent to the respective foreign missions of their native countries in Delhi. Once the police get a positive affirmation that the they are not involved in anykind of illegal activities, they would be released. The airport officials handed over the two to the airport police station.

The Customs officers seized gold weighing 397 grams in cut bits that were concealed in the footwear of a 38-year-old woman passenger, who arrived at the Chennai airport from Colombo, on Sunday. The value of the gold seized was estimated to be Rs 13.38 lakh. The Customs officers on suspicion intercepted the woman passenger identified as Hyrunisha from Chennai and checked her footwear, which were found heavier than usual. There were total of six pieces of gold in two footwears. After the seizing the gold, the Customs officers are questioning her to find out if she was part of a smuggling network and who was her handler.