7 held for smuggling gold, iPhones worth Rs 2.46 cr

In the first incident, Mohamed Azarudeen (23), John Mohamed (29) and Jailaudeen (40) from Tiruchy, and Mohamed (60) of Chennai who arrived from Dubai, and Aslam Bihas (22) from Sivaganga who arrived from Kuala Lumpur, were intercepted at the exit. On personal search, 10 bundles containing gold in paste form were recovered from their rectum. On extraction, 3 kg gold valued at Rs 1.27 crores was recovered. Also, one gold cut bit weighing 48 grams valued at Rs 2 lakh was recovered from Jailaudeen’s pocket.

In the second incident, Sikander (26) from Chennai, and Mohamed Asmathullah Khan (31) and Obeyes Mohamed (24) from Ramanathapuram who arrived from Dubai were intercepted at the exit. On personal search, six bundles containing gold in paste form were recovered from their rectum. On extraction, 1.8 kg gold valued at Rs 76.37 lakh was recovered. Further, two gold rings and one gold chain, totally weighing 160 gram and valued at Rs 6.86 lakh, were also recovered from the passengers.

On examination of their baggage, the officials also found that all of them had also brought cigarettes, iPhones and refurbished laptops in commercial quantity, valued at Rs 17.91 lakhs.

In the last case, one bundle of gold in paste form was recovered from the garbage bin placed in the toilet for the disabled near the VIP lounge of the arrival hall. On extraction, 358 grams gold valued at Rs 15.36 lakh was recovered and seized as unclaimed. In total, 5.3 kg gold, iPhones, refurbished laptops and cigarettes, totally valued at Rs 2.46 crore, were seized and seven passengers were arrested.