Gold worth Rs 1.76 cr seized at city airport

On Saturday, the officials intercepted Ubaidullah (35) of Chennai, Mohamed Azarudeen (23) of Trichy, Yasar Arafath (25) of Sivaganga, who arrived from Dubai and Mohamed Abdulla (26) of Ramanathapuram who came from Colombo on suspicion.

Ubaidullah’s checked-in baggage had four gold bits weighing 238 grams valued at Rs 7.85 lakhs and the others were carrying gold weighing 563 grams in their rectum.

In another incident on Saturday night, on intelligence that gold was likely to be concealed in AirIndia flight AI 274 arriving from Colombo, officials rummaged the flight on its arrival and found one bundle of rubbery spread covered with adhesive tape, which was kept inside the rear toilet of the aircraft. On extraction, gold weighing 894 grams was recovered.

In a third incident, 14 female passengers, all from Tamil Nadu, were intercepted at the exit of customs arrival hall on suspicion. On examination, gold, weighing 3.64 kg, in rubbery material was found concealed in their rectum.