E-cigarettes seized from 2 passengers at city airport

When they searched the duo, the officers also found the latest model of iPhones, iPads and gold bits.

Based on specific information, Customs officers zeroed in on Abbasali Syed Ebrahim (43) and Mohamed Ribai (41), both from Chennai, at the exit of the Customs arrival hall at Anna International Terminus. They had arrived from Hong Kong by Thai Airways flight.

The officers found them nervous, and when questioned whether they had anything to declare, the duo were evasive in their replies, which further raised suspicion. The Customs team then searched them and their checked-in baggage.

According to a statement from the Customs Commissioner on Sunday, the team found two cut bits and four round bits of gold, totally weighing 164 grams with an estimated value of Rs 6.2 lakh, from their pockets.

When their checked-in bags were checked, the officers found 89 e-cigarettes of brands like Uwell Caliburn and Rincoe Ceto, and also 74 cartridges. These were valued at Rs 1.10 lakh. In addition, the duo had also concealed 17 iPhone 11 Pro Max (256GB and 512 GB), 11 iPhone Pro (256 GB) and 3 iPad Pro (1 TB and 256 GB), together valued at Rs 21.2 lakh in their personal effects. In all, goods worth Rs 28.5 lakh were seized under Customs Act, 1962, (read with Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992) and Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement) Ordinance, 2019, the statement added.