Gold worth Rs 94 lakh seized at airport

The customs were checking the passengers who arrived from Malaysia and Dubai on Friday. On suspicion, they intercepted a group of six passengers -- Mohamed Ali (32) of Madurai and Abdul Hakkim (32) of Sivaganga, who arrived from Malaysia, Syed Mohamed (34) and Seyed Farook (43) from Ramanathapuram, who arrived from Dubai via Colombo, Syed Abthageer (44) of Tiruchy and Ansari (34) of Chennai who arrived from Dubai.

On questioning, they appeared to be nervous and gave evasive replies. After searching them, the officials recovered 10 gold cut bits weighing 298 grams and worth Rs 12 lakh from their pant pockets. Further, 1.57 kg gold in 16 bundles were extracted from their rectums. The gold is valued at Rs 63 lakh. In total, the officials seized 1.87 kg of gold worth Rs 75.66 lakh from them.

In another incident, the officials, who were checking the passengers waiting to board a flight to Singapore, intercepted Thameem Ansari (40) on suspicion of carrying foreign currency. The officials recovered US dollars worth Rs 7 lakh from his hand baggage.

In the third incident, Mohamed Ashik Ali (28) was intercepted at the exit and on his personal search, the officials recovered gold weighing 468 grams and worth Rs 18.55 lakh from his rectum.