Gold smuggling attempts foiled in Chennai airport, two held

The Air Intelligence officers of Chennai Customs have foiled attempts to smuggle in 4.171 kg of gold valued at Rs 2.01 crore in the last two days, it was announced on Tuesday.

According to Customs, based on intelligence, five male Apassengers who arrived from Dubai by Emirates flight on Monday and two male passengers who arrived from Dubai by Indigo flight on Monday were intercepted at exit gate by Air Intelligence officers.

On examination of their check-in-baggage, 43 gold cut-bits of 24k purity, weighing 2.493 kg and valued at Rs 1.20 crore, were found wrapped around laptop chargers with adhesive tapes.

The gold was seized and one passenger was arrested.

In another case, 992 grams of gold valued at Rs 48 lakh was seized from 12 passengers who arrived from Colombo flight on Monday.

On Tuesday, a male passenger, who arrived from Dubai by Indigo flight was intercepted. On examination of his person, three bundles wrapped with adhesive tapes were found concealed in the rectum, which resulted in recovery one gold ingot of 24K purity weighing 686 grams and valued at Rs 33.05 lakh.